On March 22, the National Development and Reform Commission and the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology publicly released the “Development and Innovation Layout Plan for the Modern Coal Chemical Industry.” The Plan encourages cross-industry and cross-regional optimization of factor resource allocation, actively promotes coal-based multi-product integrated production, and fosters the integrated development of the modern coal chemical industry with sectors such as power generation, petrochemicals, metallurgy and building materials, and synthetic fibers. This will help build circular economy industrial chains and industrial clusters, thereby enhancing the efficiency of resource and energy utilization.

　　After years of painstaking efforts, China’s modern coal-to-chemicals technology has achieved comprehensive breakthroughs, and its key technological capabilities now rank among the world’s leading. Coal-to-oil, coal-to-natural gas, coal-to-olefins, and coal-to-ethylene glycol have largely been commercialized. Industrial-scale trials for coal-to-aromatics have also made progress, successfully establishing a bridge between coal conversion and petrochemical products. However, the industry as a whole remains in the stage of upgrading and demonstration, and is not yet fully equipped for large-scale industrialization. There is still room for improvement in system integration levels and pollution control technologies; the stability and economic viability of production need further verification; industry standards and market systems require further refinement. Moreover, there is a growing trend of blindly planning and constructing modern coal-to-chemicals projects without regard for ecological carrying capacity or water resource constraints.

　　In response to the above-mentioned issues, the “Plan” identifies eight key tasks, including: conducting in-depth demonstrations of industrial and technological upgrades; accelerating the integrated development of related industries; implementing potential-exploitation and renovation initiatives for leading enterprises; planning and establishing demonstration zones for modern coal chemical industries; organizing and carrying out transformation projects for resource-based cities; steadily advancing international industrial cooperation; significantly enhancing capabilities in comprehensive technology and equipment packages; and actively exploring pathways for reducing carbon dioxide emissions.

　　Regarding the integration of related industries, the "Plan" calls for adopting an integrated approach—combining coal-to-chemicals, power generation, and heat supply—based on the principles of a circular economy. It urges vigorous promotion of the integrated development of modern coal chemical industry with six key sectors: coal mining, power generation, petrochemicals, synthetic fibers, salt chemicals, and metallurgy & building materials. This will help extend industrial chains, strengthen industrial clusters, enhance resource conversion efficiency, and boost industrial competitiveness.

　　The key areas for the integrated development of the six major industries are as follows:

　　Modern Coal Chemical Industry—By leveraging high-sulfur coal gasification technology, we will demonstrate the upgrading of the modern coal chemical industry and extend the service life of existing high-sulfur coal mines. The focus will be on the efficient conversion and utilization of low-quality coal resources, such as high-sulfur coal from Shanxi and Guizhou.

　　Modern coal-to-chemicals—power integration: By leveraging power-generation sites in Xinjiang, Shaanxi, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, and other regions, we will develop integrated coal-to-chemicals-and-power systems and promote the construction of Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plants. This approach will enable synergistic production of modern coal chemicals and electricity (and heat), facilitate two-way load regulation, and enhance the efficiency of resource and energy utilization.

　　Modern coal-to-chemicals and petrochemicals—leveraging integrated coal-to-electricity-and-heat technologies—to build a combined facility that integrates crude oil processing, power generation, heat supply, and hydrogen production. By capitalizing on the complementary supply-and-demand relationship between intermediate products from modern coal-to-chemicals and crude oil processing, we will carry out demonstration projects for the joint processing of coal and crude oil.

　　Modern Coal Chemical Industry—Chemical Fibers: Develop coal-to-aromatics and coal-to-ethylene glycol technologies, promote diversification of chemical fiber raw materials, and implement demonstration projects for coal-based chemical fiber feedstocks.

　　Modern coal-to-chemicals and salt-to-chemicals industries should focus on the comprehensive development and utilization of salt lake resources in regions such as Qinghai, and proceed with the construction of the coal-to-olefins project in Haixi Prefecture, Qinghai Mining. In line with the requirements of the International Convention on the Control of Mercury Pollution, where conditions permit, timely implementation of transformations in the raw material routes for polyvinyl chloride production—specifically, shifting from acetylene-based processes to ethylene production via acetylene hydrogenation—is recommended.

　　Modern coal chemical industry—metallurgy and building materials: Develop building material products from fly ash, and advance technologies for producing alumina, carbon monoxide, or hydrogen directly through the reduction of high-alumina fly ash. Focus on carrying out integrated demonstration projects for modern coal chemical industry and metallurgical building materials in regions such as western Mongolia, thereby enhancing the comprehensive utilization of by-product gases from metallurgical processes.

　　To ensure smooth implementation, the “Plan” emphasizes strict adherence to project construction requirements, standardization of approval and management procedures, promotion of rational resource allocation, strengthening of safety and environmental protection oversight, improvement of industrial organizational structures, and enhancement of leadership in organization and implementation.