China Considers Scrapping Coal to Oil Projects

China is considering halting efforts to make oil from coal due to concerns about the expense, how much energy it uses and the effect on climate change.

China had been hoping to ease its rising dependence on imported oil by promoting alternative energy sources such as oil-from-coal and solar, wind, and nuclear power.

But scientists have warned that oil-from-coal projects produce large amounts of greenhouse gases. China “may put an end to projects which are designed to produce petroleum by liquefying coal,” said a Chinese official from the National Development and Reform Commission.

“Liquefied coal projects consume a lot of energy, though the successful industrialization of liquefied coal could help reduce the country’s dependence on petroleum,” he added.