Expansion Management

Houston Company to Build Coal Gasification Project in China

April 9, 2013

The Jiangxi Province project will be designed to convert coal mining wastes into two billion normal cubic meters of SNG per year.

Adrienne Selko

Interest in Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc coal gasification technology has resulted in an agreement with the Hainan Dongfang Henghe Energy Development Company Ltd., based in Hainan Province, China, for a large scale $1.6 billion coal waste to synthetic natural gas project in Jiangxi Province, China.

"Our track record of technology success in China, buoyed by the recent start-up of our Yima Joint Venture plant, has resulted in a significant uptick in inquiries from industrial companies and project developers looking to utilize our coal gasification technology," said Robert Rigdon, CEO of Houston, Texas- based Synthesis Energy Systems, Inc (SES).

SES provides technology, equipment and engineering services for the conversion of low rank, low cost coal and biomass feedstocks into energy and chemical products.

"The Jiangxi project with Henghe is an ideal large-scale commercial application of our technology for the conversion of very low quality and low cost fuels into high-value products like synthetic natural gas,” Rigdon added. “We expect the project to require multiple SES gasifier systems and we look forward to finalizing the commercial arrangements for our technology and equipment."

The Jiangxi Province project will be designed to convert coal mining wastes into two billion normal cubic meters of SNG per year, and is expected to be built in multiple phases.

“We believe the SES technology is a good technology for China and is well suited for our Jiangxi project because of its ability to cleanly and cost effectively convert our low quality coal and waste coal for SNG production,” said Li Jinmei, chairwoman of Henghe.

About the Author

Adrienne Selko | Senior Editor

Focus: Workforce, Talent

Bio: Adrienne Selko has written about many topics over the 17 years she has been with the publication and currently focuses on workforce development strategies.She is also a senior editor at Material Handling & Logistics and EHS Today.

Editorial mission statement: Manufacturing is the enviable position of creating products, processes and policies that solve the world’s problems. When the industry stepped up to manufacture what was necessary to combat the pandemic, it revealed its true nature. My goal is to showcase the sector’s ability to address a broad range of workforce issues including technology, training, diversity & inclusion, with a goal of enticing future generations to join this amazing sector.

Why I find manufacturing interesting: On my first day working for a company that made medical equipment such as MRIs, I toured the plant floor. On every wall was a photo of a person, mostly children. I asked my supervisor why this was the case and he said that the work we do at this company has saved these people’s lives. “We never forget how important our work is and everyone’s contribution to that.” From that moment on I was hooked on manufacturing.

I have talked with many people in this field who have transformed their own career development to assist others. For example, companies are hiring those with disabilities, those previously incarcerated and other talent pools that have been underutilized. I have talked with leaders who have brought out the best in their workforce, as well as employees doing their best work while doing good for the world.