Billions of cubic meters of coke gas wasted annually in China

China wastes more than 30 billion cubic meters of coke gas every year, twice the annual amount of gas transmitted by the West-to-East Natural Gas Transmission Project, said an expert with the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).

Deng Shuping, a chemist with the Shanxi Coal Chemistry Institute of CAS, said coke gas is one of the major by-products of coking industry. Production of each ton of coke produces 430 cubic meters of gas, half of which is used for supporting combustion, and the remaining half, if not put into recycled bin, is discharged into the air.

He estimated that less than 10 percent of coke gas was recycled last year in China.

Dong Yuemao, an official with the coking industry group of north China's Shanxi Province, said that coke gas can be used in generating electricity, making fertilizer and for cooking and industrial production. It can make huge profits if utilized properly.

Ni Weidou, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said comprehensive use of coke gas is of vital importance for China, a country producing large amounts of coke annually.