On October 21, the first milestone review meeting for Phase II of the Hongguang Initiative Project "Industrialization of Circulating Fluidized Bed Coal Gasification (CFBCG) Technology",led by CAS Hefei Gasification Technology Co., Ltd.(ZHGAS), was held at the Datong Coal Utilization Test Base under the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics,Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Attendees included:

•  Yan Qing, Deputy Secretary-General of CAS and Director-General of the Bureau of Science and Technology for Development

• l Chen Wenkai, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Science and Technology for Development

• l Fu Guangyi, Director of the High-Tech Division

• l Zhu Junqiang, Director of the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics

• l Huang Congli, Party Committee Secretary of the Institute

• l Bai Lu, Director of the Science and Technology Division

• l Lv Qinggang, Director of the Circulating Fluidized Bed Laboratory

• l Yu Kuangshi, General Manager of ZHGAS

The review panel comprised 10 experts from technical, investment,end-user,financial,and government sectors, including representatives from the Datong Municipal Government.

Hongguang Initiativen Node Assessment and Acceptance Meeting Site

At the meeting, Dr. Lv Qinggang, Project Leader, reported on the project’s progress and milestone achievements.He highlighted breakthroughs in CGAS technology under the Hongguang Initiative, particularly in industrial gas supply, synthetic ammonia production, and coking gas sources, with case studies demonstrating advancements in high-alkali coal and anthracite clean utilization.

Xinjiang Yihua High-Alkali Coal Circulating Fluidized Bed Gasification Facility

Guizhou Hongsheng Anthracite Circulating Fluidized Bed Gasification Facility

The panel rigorously evaluated the project’s goal completion, technical and economic impacts, and fund utilization, unanimously affirming its R&D progress and industrialization outcomes.

Dr. Du Minghua, Senior Researcher at Shenhua Technology Research Institute, praised CGAS’s industrial significance, stating:

 “This technology overcomes barriers in gasifying challenging coal types, offers low gas production costs, and enables substitution of high-value gases like coke oven gas, unlocking vast industrial potential.”

Dr. Li Wenhua from the Beijing Low-Carbon Clean Energy Research Institute noted:

“The project meets both technical and economic benchmarks, with strong prospects in niche markets and low-quality coal applications.”

Capital expert He Qiong emphasized alignment with China’s Sci-Tech Innovation Board (STAR Market) criteria:

The Sci-Tech Innovation Board (STAR Market) emphasizes three strategic orientations for listed enterprises—"global technological frontiers, economic priorities, and national strategic needs"—a positioning that aligns seamlessly with the establishment criteria of the CAS Hongguang Initiative. The project’s industrial entity, CAS Hefei Gasification Technology Co., Ltd. (ZHGAS),demonstrates robust operational performance and advanced technological capabilities, fully meeting the STAR Market’s listing standards.

In his closing remarks, Yan Qing stressed:

“The Hongguang Initiative prioritizes transformative technologies. CGAS has matured in market applications,but further efforts must focus on core technology refinement and sustainable development. ZHGAS, as an institute-incubated enterprise, must amplify CGAS’s global impact.”

Deputy Secretary-General Yan Qing Inspects the Institute of Engineering Thermophysics' Datong Coal Clean and Efficient Utilization Test Base

Post-meeting, attendees toured the Datong Coal Utilization Test Base, where Dr. Lv Qinggang outlined upcoming large-scale trials.The 49,000-square-meter facility, jointly built by the Institute and Datong Municipal Government, houses 15 buildings (including R&D centers, testing labs, and pilot platforms) and 7 pilot systems. Initial trial results have already informed feasibility studies for industrial projects.

As the Hongguang Initiative’s designated industrial platform, ZHGAS integrates R&D with market demands through technology optimization, system engineering, and commercial deployment, advancing CFBCG in sectors like solid/hazardous waste gasification and sludge pyrolysis. Future efforts will prioritize clean energy solutions to drive diversified, sustainable growth in coal chemical and environmental industries.