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　　Recently, Zhejiang Engineering Institute and Jinju Company have joined forces to transfer coal‑water slurry gasification technology to a company in Hubei Province. Under this project, Zhejiang Engineering Institute is responsible for designing an energy‑saving and environmentally friendly technical upgrade to produce syngas from coal‑water slurry, while Jinju Company provides technical support. The design meets the requirements for an annual synthetic ammonia production capacity of 200,000 tons. To date, the feasibility study report has been completed; the next step is to commence detailed engineering design immediately upon approval.

　　Since the onset of winter, amid frequent bouts of pervasive smog, much of the blame has fallen on coal combustion, which is widely regarded as a major contributor to deteriorating air quality. In response, the government has introduced increasingly stringent environmental regulations, ramping up inspections and penalties while mandating that companies switch to clean energy sources to curb pollutant emissions. Consequently, “transforming coal ash into clean energy” has become a critical factor for corporate survival and growth. Among these efforts, slurry‑coal technology—processing coal and wastewater into a pressurized gasification feedstock known as coal‑water slurry—has gained growing favor among small and medium‑sized nitrogen fertilizer producers.

　　Zhejiang Engineering Institute and Jinju Company have long been engaged in synthetic ammonia technology‑upgrade projects. After years of field application, their high‑concentration wastewater‑to‑coal‑slurry technology has become increasingly mature, with a relatively small capital investment, making it particularly well suited to small and medium‑sized enterprises. “With the phasing out of electricity‑price subsidies for fertilizer producers and mounting environmental pressures, nitrogen‑fertilizer companies urgently need to cut energy consumption and emissions while restructuring their feedstock mixtures. Some clients have even approached us proactively,” said Tong Zhengfu, the design manager responsible for the coal‑slurry project. “Zhejiang Engineering Institute and Jinju Company have formed a joint venture, leveraging each other’s strengths to export this proven coal‑slurry gasification technology, thereby helping nitrogen‑fertilizer firms address the growing challenges of rising costs and tightening environmental regulations.”

　　According to Tong Zhengfu, adopting coal-water slurry technology not only alleviates environmental pressures on enterprises and reduces the energy consumption and costs per ton of ammonia, but also enables the production of competitive downstream products such as hydrogen and liquid ammonia, thereby bringing about a fundamental shift from batch‑furnace gasification to continuous pressurized gasification.

　　At present, Jinju Company’s coal-water slurry gasification technology has been granted three national patents, has been designated as a planned investment project by the National Development and Reform Commission, and serves as a national demonstration base for circular economy education.

　　In 2015, Shandong Shitaifeng’s 160,000‑ton‑per‑year synthetic ammonia plant became the first water‑coal slurry technology package exported by the two companies, achieving successful startup on its first attempt. Since commissioning, the unit has operated smoothly for nine months, meeting its design capacity and performance specifications.

　　After adopting coal-water slurry technology, the cost per ton of ammonia is reduced by approximately RMB 350 compared with conventional intermittent gasification. Conventional intermittent gasification relies on high‑grade anthracite, which is expensive; in contrast, coal‑water slurry gasification utilizes lower‑grade bituminous coal and can co‑process high‑concentration organic wastewater, turning waste into a valuable feedstock. This process also significantly cuts emissions of gaseous and solid pollutants, substantially easing environmental pressures. With an operational lifespan of about 4.5 years, the plant can recoup its capital investment, making it highly significant for enterprises seeking to develop a circular economy, enhance economic efficiency and product competitiveness, and achieve sustainable development.

　　Last year, following the elimination of electricity‑price subsidies for fertilizer producers, the Zhejiang Engineering Institute and Jinju Company keenly recognized the vast market potential of coal‑water slurry technology. Over a period of five months, they conducted in‑depth research into this technology, systematically compiling a process package based on previously accumulated empirical knowledge. Drawing on raw data provided by Jinju Company—such as process flows and equipment specifications—the Zhejiang Engineering Institute performed material balance calculations, developed piping and instrumentation diagrams, and then returned the results to the plant for review and validation by seasoned experts. After dozens of iterative rounds of refinement, they successfully completed the process package for a 50,000‑ton‑per‑year coal‑water slurry gasification unit. Meanwhile, work is well underway to prepare the process package for a subsequent 150,000‑ton‑per‑year coal‑water slurry gasification project.

　　In recent years, the two parties have forged a powerful partnership, leveraging internal resources to deliver impactful initiatives that generate synergies exceeding the sum of their parts. Their collaboration in technology transfer and engineering design has yielded significant social and economic benefits. Meanwhile, as they help small and medium-sized nitrogen fertilizer enterprises address energy conservation, emissions reduction, and raw material‑mix adjustments, they have promoted the use of clean fuels, contributing to societal well-being and enabling communities to break free from pervasive smog and once again enjoy clear skies and white clouds.