Gas producers exploring coal gasification

[SINGAPORE] Industrial gas producers such as Soxal and Linde Gas, as well as Keppel Corp's genco unit, are said to be exploring plans by Singapore for a coal gasification project, which besides utilities, can produce synthetic gas for use as an alternative, competitive feedstock for petrochemical plants and refineries on Jurong Island.

Following an earlier Request For Proposals (RFP) called by the Economic Development Board, discussions with the authorities are continuing, though approval has not been given for the project yet, The Business Times understands.

"It is still at an exploratory stage," said a spokesman for Singapore Oxygen Air Liquide, adding that the company is more keen on the project's production of synthetic gases such as carbon monoxide and hydrogen, rather than in the utilities, that is electricity and steam. This is because Soxal already has its own in-house cogen plant to meet its utilities needs.