Recently, John Morgan, senior deputy executive of British
Petroleum (BP) said that BP is seeking opportunities to invest in
the Chinese coal to liquids (CTL) business and has talked with Shen
Hua Group Corporation Limited, China's biggest coal company.
Meanwhile, BP is looking to invest more in the Chinese
petrochemical production and oil refining business given the
surging demands in domestic markets for petrochemical products and
transport fuel, he added.
The CTL business that BP is interested in includes the
production and utilization of coal turned into methanol and
dimethyl enther, according to Mr. Morgan. To date, the Chinese
government has not made it clear whether coal turned into methanol
or dimethyl enther could be used as transport fuel. Mr. Morgan
revealed that several years ago, BP conducted research in the US
and Germany to see if methanol could be used as transport fuel,
which indicates that this chemical is a safe fuel. Unfortunately
methanol powered vehicles have not been fully developed so far. If
the Chinese government allows methanol to be utilized as vehicle
fuel, BP would like to cooperate with the proper governmental
departments to work on the management and technical issues in
regard to methanol utilization, Mr. Morgan
said.
For more details, please read the full story in Chinese. (
http://www.cnstock.com/newcjzh/headine/2007-11/07/content_2719176.htm)
(China.org.cn November 7, 2007)