China Petrochemical IndustryAssociation has launched a new body -- Coordinating Work  Committeeof New Coal-Chemical Industry to coordinate the development of coal-chemical industry. It is the first industrial coordinatingorganization for China's coal chemical industry.

    China's coal-chemical industry has been growing fast over the pastthree decades, with the current output of coke, calcium carbide, coal-based fertilizer and coal-based methanol leading the global market.

    In recent years, new coal-chemical industry saw a thrivingdevelopment. For instance, annual methanol yield rose to 10.764million tons in 2007 from two million tons in  2000. It is predictedthat the country's annual methanol capacity will reach 26 million to30 million tons by 2010.

    Meanwhile, industrial experiment has been completed for methyl-based alkene technology, followed by the construction of a number ofnew coal-chemical industrial projects, including Shenhua's directcoal liquefaction project with annual capacity of one million tonsthat will come on stream within the next two years.

    The new Coordinating Work Committee of New Coal-Chemical Industrywill coordinate industrial policies, production, R&D and designingactivities in the new coal-chemical industry to ensure healthydevelopment of the industry.