BEIJING : China is to"strictly control" the approval and size of new coal-to-chemical projects as authorities prioritise strengthening supply of coal to power plants, according to a statement released by the state planner on Thursday.
A policy of adding 20 million metric tons in new coal-chemical capacity in so-called demonstration zones from the previous 13th Five Year Plan would also not be continued, said the statement from the National Development and Reform Commission . The statement noted the restrictions on new capacity additions would not apply to the coal-to-oil or coal-to-gas sectors. The measures are therefore targeted at coal to downstream, non-fuel petrochemical processing.