China creeps ahead with CTG build-out plans
A CTG project in Xinjiang. A pipeline is being built to carry synthetic gas to east China. (China Kingho Energy Group)
China appears to be advancing plans for a controversial coal-to-gas (CTG) construction spree in the far western region of Xinjiang, despite the vast amounts of carbon dioxide emitted by such projects.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China’s main economic planning authority, gave its official approval last October to Sinopec’s plans to build a 30 billion cubic metre per year pipeline from Xinjiang to southern Guangdong province.