brown coal to chemicals

Interesting media release today from the BCIA on the potential of brown coal with regards the potential in chemical production. Some may think MNM are sitting on their hands doing nothing but IK seems to have a very strategic plan with his accumulation of brown coal assets. Time will tell how good his moves have been but risk versus reward on MNM right now is worth a play. BCIA media release below.

Brown Coal Innovation Australia (BCIA) issued the following news release earlier today. Details of upcoming events and previous BCIA news releases and dare available from the News and Events page on our website.


Media Release

Victoria has huge potential for development of chemicals from brown coal

China is likely to play a critical role in disseminating new technologies for the conversion of lignite coals to chemicals, gaseous and liquid fuels according to an IEA Clean Coal Centre report launched today at a Brown Coal Innovation Australia (BCIA) research seminar in Melbourne.

IEA Clean Coal Centre General Manager, Dr Andrew Minchener - author of the report - told the seminar: “China has a major government backed coal-conversion development and deployment program. Building on new technologies from a strategic R&D program, coal-to-chemicals processes are set to become a significant, large scale commercial element in China’s economy. Victoria’s world-class brown coal deposits also provide major opportunities for the deployment of large scale coal gasification technologies that could convert brown coal to fertilisers, liquid fuels and fine chemicals.”

Dr Minchener delivered the keynote address ‘Coal gasification for chemicals, gaseous and liquid fuels in Asia’ at the BCIA seminar. Dr Minchener said: “While today South Africa has established the world’s only commercial scale coal to liquids facilities, China’s activities are growing rapidly. It can also provide the technical expertise and financially underpin coal conversion projects, including associated infrastructure needs, in other countries.”

Dr Minchener told the audience of more than 130 Australian and international delegates at the BCIA seminar: “Coal gasification can fulfil an important strategic need in countries where coal is the primary fuel source and oil and gas energy security is an issue.” Dr Minchener’s report shows several Australian-based companies are exploring coal conversion projects in developing countries including Mongolia, China, Vietnam, Turkey and the Ukraine.

BCIA Chief Executive Officer, Dr Phil Gurney, said “As demonstrated through attendance at this seminar and participation in our competitive R&D funding rounds, there is strong domestic and international interest in capturing full value from Australia’s world class brown coal resource through low-emissions technology innovation for the conversion of coal to high value chemical and fuel products.

“There have been significant developments in improving the technical and environmental performance of coal-to-chemicals processes in recent years and BCIA intends facilitating further discussion on utilisation of brown coal – this will include a seminar in 2014 on capture technology. BCIA is delighted that the CarbonNet Project, the sponsor for this seminar, will also sponsor the 2014 seminar,” said Dr Gurney.

The BCIA seminar on ‘Coal to Products – Gasification, Pyrolysis and Beyond’ was sponsored by the CarbonNet Project which is investigating the potential for establishing a large-scale, multi-user carbon capture and storage network in Victoria’s Gippsland region. The seminar covered gasification technologies ready for commercial deployment on Victorian brown coal, through to potential projects and markets and future research and development in brown coal.
More information: Mandy Frostick, BCIA Communications Manager