New Zealand: Solid Energy started its UCG pilot - April, 2012

  Located near Huntly, North of Hamilton, the pilot will gasify 35 metric tons of coal per day during 18 months. The site will then me rehabilitated to it original state.

 Mongolia: Government and Uhde sign a Memorandum of Understanding on CTL - March 31, 2012

  The project also involves ICM (Industrial Corporation of Mongolia). A first study was communicated in June, 2008. Uhde is to provide its Prenflo and HTW technologies and act as EPC. According to Uhde, as reported by Gasification News (April 24), capacity is to be 16,000-18,000 barrels per day.

 Chile: Methanex evaluates methanol production from coal - April 10, 2012

  Given gas supply restrictions, coal gasification is being considered as an alternative source. Decision expected by the end of 2012.

 World: "Speed-Dating" Session on Projects at the World CTL 2012 - April 6, 2012

  World CTL 2012 innovates with several short presentations (3-5 slides) of new projects on April 18 afternoon. A good opportunity for project holders to be known and for vendors to establsh contact.

 China: Datang Duolum Sells its First Batch of Polypropylene (PP) - March 19, 2012

  The first batch of PP, produced from lignite, was off-line on March 6.

 World: Dr. Shu Geping Awarded with the 2012 World CTL Award - March, 2012

  Dr. Shu Geping, Chief Engineer of China Shenhua Coal to Liquid & Chemical, is awarded for his scientific and operational contribution to the success of the Direct CTL technology.

 China, Xinjiang: Investments in SNG Production and Transportation - February 9, 2012

  In 2011, 14 coal-to-SNG projects have been started by 12 companies. PetroChina and Sinopec are planning ambitious pipeline projects, with transportation capacities of 112 billion cubic meters per annum (PetroChina) and 48 billion cubic meters by 2015 (Sinopec).

 World: GTC (Gasification Technologies Council) and World CTL to team for their 2012 Industry Events - March 2, 2012.

  Richard Olliver, Executive Director ot the GTC, will deliver an address at the World CTL 2012 in Beijing (April 17, 2012).

 USA-China: GreatPoint and Wanxiang have signed a $1.25bn deal Natural Gas Production from Coal - February 21, 2012

  The companies will build a large-scale plant that will take coal mined from the Gobi desert, convert it to natural gas ("Substitute Natural Gas") and transport it to growing urban areas.

 USA-China: Pratt & Whitney and two Chinese Companies to co-operate on a Commercial-Scale Gasification Demonstration Plant in China - February 2, 2012

  Pratt & Whitney Rocketdyne, Zhongyuan Da Hua and East China Engineering Science & Technology concluded a framework agreement to design, construct and operate a commercial-scale advanced gasification demonstration plant in China’s central eastern Henan Province.