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)