Published: April 26, 2006 07:28 pm      

Expert talks about coal liquefaction

The process could lower gas prices

MORGANTOWN, W. Va. — Researchers at West Virginia University heard about the impact of coal liquefaction plants first-hand from an expert from China Tuesday.

The energy seminar is part of an ongoing project to study the potential economic and environmental impacts of coal liquefaction, the process of converting coal to transportation fuels.

The seminar featured Xiangkun Ren, vice president of China Shenhua Coal Liquefaction Corp. and director of Shenhua Coal Liquefaction Research Institute. “As the leading scientist in the coal gasification program of the China High Technology Research and Development Project, Ren is at the forefront of China's pursuit to convert coal to liquid transportation fuels,” WVU said in a statement.

There are no coal liquefaction plants in the U.S., but Richard Bajur, director for the National Research Center for Coal And Energy (NRCCE) at WVU, said there’s more interest now than before, largely because of rising gas prices.

“We’re going to need many of these (plants) globally,” Richard Bajur, director for the National Researcher Center for Coal And Energy (NRCCE), said. “It’s great to have someone else break the ground for us.”

Dr. Jerry Fletcher, an environmental economics professor at the NRCCE, said until recently, coal liquefaction hasn’t been a particular focus of U.S. Energy policy. But the situation is rapidly changing, according to Fletcher.

“Our estimates is that this can produce fuel at $45 to $50 a barrel, that’s far less than the current prices in the seventies,” Fletcher said. That could ultimately mean lower gas prices for consumers.

The Shenhua Group Corp. is developing the world's first commercial direct coal liquefaction facility as well as indirect facilities in China, according to WVU.

“We are the largest and first coal liquefaction company in Chine,” Ren said, adding that they produce nearly 20,000 barrels a day.

The school will work with Ren’s company to study the impact of coal liquefaction and its feasibility for implementation in other countries, the school said.

Tuesday’s seminar came on the heels of U.S. Sen. Robert C. Byrd annoucement on Wednesday (April 19) that WVU will receive a $1.5 million, three-year award for the study in China, a joint activity between the U.S. Department of Energy and the China National Development and Reform Commission.

E-mail Justin McLaughlin at jmclaughlin@timeswv.com.