Christian Science Monitor: In its latest Medium-Term Coal Market Report the International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts a slowing of coal demand growth but no retreat in its global use. That wont surprise energy realists, but the item I wasnt expecting was the reference in the IEA press release to growing efforts in China to convert coal into liquid fuels and especially synthetic natural gas (SNG).
Its not hard to imagine Chinas planners viewing SNG as a promising avenue for addressing the severe local air pollution...