Coal liquefaction, Shenhua Group, and China’s energy security

Energy security requires the affordable, reliable and sustainable supply of energy, for commercial and household use. A low-cost and uninterrupted energy supply is fundamental for economic development
and political stability. China’s emergence
as a major world industrial producer means that its energy security is now of international concern. This paper presents the first in-depth case study of China’s pioneering coal liquefaction project carried out in the Shenhua Group. This project is of great potential significance for China’s energy security. It
is likely to have important implications for China’s position within the structure of global energy supply, and have wide potential implications for international relations.