Petrochemical Industry's Role in Low Carbon Economy
Year:2010 ISSUE:1
COLUMN:EDITORS NOTE
Click:356    DateTime:Jan.25,2010
Petrochemical Industry's Role in Low Carbon Economy  

On the background of the climate getting warmer, the low carbon economy based on low energy consumption and low pollution becomes a highlight worldwide. Most countries, making use of the opportunity of economic changes, strengthen promoting "low carbon revolution" and develop "low carbon technologies", make significant adjustment on policies related to industry, energy, technology and trade. The Chinese government also has paid high attention to the low carbon economy. What is the role of the petrochemical industry in developing low carbon economy? Given the fact that it uses fossil as raw material, can it do nothing but bringing high carbon dioxide emissions?
   "The petroleum and chemical industry is both executor and guarantor of low carbon economy," said Chai Qinhu, China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association (CPCIA) in a report. "Developing low carbon economy is a good opportunity and urgent for China's petrochemical industry to adjust its industrial mix and change its position in the international distribution."
   From the viewpoint of technology only, the climate change problem is easy to solve. However, a few technical routines can bring economic profit. As for the developing countries like China, the current key target is to develop economy and improve life quality. China, in the stage of industrialization, will face inevitably an increasing energy consumption. So, to develop low carbon economy, the most important target for China are to realize energy conservation and emission reduction on current technologies through innovation and upgrading, to realize the clean utilization of coal as well as to develop renewable energy.
   The petrochemical industry will inevitably discharge carbon dioxide in its production and the follow-up production process needs carbon dioxide that can be physically used or chemically fixed. "At present, millions tons of carbon dioxide per year has been physically used in China, for example, carbonic acid beverages, fire distinguishers," said Chai, "Around 40 million tons of carbon dioxide has been fixed in urea. Other fixing and storage methods include making dimethyl carbonate."
   Additionally, the application of petrochemicals can help cut emissions of green house gases. The petrochemical industry is not the barrier of low carbon economy. Due to the misuse of chemicals for some illegal companies, most people in China fear chemicals.
   So, the key for petrochemical industry may be how to find an efficient and cheap road map to realize low carbon development.

Zhong Weike
December 30th, 2009