CTL Fuel Could Help America Wean Itself of Foreign Oil Imports

Business Wire, Jan 19, 2007

DUBLIN, Ireland -- Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c48840) has announced the addition of Commercialization of Coal to Liquids Technology 2007 to their offering.

The United States has the world's largest coal reserves with an estimated 268 billion recoverable tons. Converting just 5 percent of the U.S. coal reserves to Fisher-Tropsch fuels would equate to the existing U.S. crude reserves of 29 billion barrels. The U.S. could virtually double our nation's domestic motor fuel supply without drilling a single a well or building a new refinery.

The technology of producing a liquid fuel from coal or natural gas is hardly new. The Fischer-Tropsch process was developed by German researchers Franz Fischer and Hans Tropsch in 1923 and used by Germany and Japan during World War II to produce alternative fuels. Indeed, in 1944, Germany produced 6.5 million tons, or 124,000 barrels a day.

CTL fuel is already in use elsewhere, like South Africa, where it meets 30 percent of transportation fuel needs.

In addition to being cheaper than oil, advocates point out that the fuel is environmentally friendlier and would also help America wean itself of foreign oil imports.

This report provides an overview of the CTL market and examines the potential, technologies, and economics of the commercialization of CTL fuel. It details 14 real-life projects and profiles major industry players.

Topics Covered

Overview of the Coal Market

Market Status

Reserves

Market Outlook

Energy Crisis and Need for Alternative Fuels

Coal Conversion Options

Introduction to Liquid Fuels from Coal

What is Coal Liquefaction

History of CTL Development

Benefits of Liquid Fuel from Coal

CTL Technologies

Direct Coal Liquefaction

Single Stage Processes

Kohleoel Process

NEDOL Process

H-Coal Process

Exxon Donor Solvent Process

SRC-I and SRC-II Processes

Imhausen High-pressure Process

Conoco Zinc Chloride Process

Two Stage Processes

Catalytic Two-stage Liquefaction Process

Liquid Solvent Extraction Process

Brown Coal Liquefaction Process

Indirect Coal Liquefaction

Sasol Process

Mobil MTG Process

Hybrid Coal Liquefaction

Carbonization and Pyrolysis

Co-Processing Coal and Heavy Oil

Comparison of Various Technologies

Polygeneration

Commercialization of Coal to Liquid Fuel Current Developments and Future Prospects of CTL Fuel

Growth Drivers

Constraints and Issues

Hazards of Coal Mining

Environmental Issues

International Market Developments

Chin

South Africa

Australia

Japan

Germany

India

Indonesia

Commercial Developments of CTL Technologies

Direct Coal Liquefaction

Indirect Coal Liquefaction

Economics of CTL Development

Production and Operating Costs

Cogeneration Costs

Investments

Comparison of Various Clean Fuel Technologies

Role of the Government

Policies and Regulations

Initiative to Support CTL Development

Key Player Profile

Project Profiles

For more information visit http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c48840