The cold wind is piercing, and the breath turns into frost. When most outdoor projects slow down due to severe cold, the Gobi Desert in Zhundong, Xinjiang is a scene of great enthusiasm. Thousands of builders are racing against time and competing against low temperatures, with only one goal: to ensure a coal chemical integration "giant" project with a total investment of 33.8 billion yuan, and deliver a brilliant answer by the end of the year. Here, it is not only the roar of machinery and the splashing of welding flowers, but also a 'winter battle' that concerns China's energy strategy layout and industrial upgrading.  

Despite the sudden drop in temperature, the Zhundong Coal Chemical Integration Project, invested and constructed by Shandong Energy Group Yankuang Xinjiang Energy and Chemical Co., Ltd., is striving to reach its annual target with a running and decisive attitude. This is not a single breakthrough, but a simultaneous progress of three main lines: in the Wucaiwan mining area, Yankuang Qineng No. 4 open-pit mine aims to produce 6 million tons of coal by the end of the year, coordinates project completion, joint trial operation and mining site optimization, and synchronously accelerates the construction of coal transportation corridors to open up the "main artery" for coal production and transportation.  

In the chemical industrial park, the annual production of 800000 tons of olefins project is speeding up. The project team is accelerating the modification of basic design and pushing forward the bidding work for key long-term equipment and engineering general contracting. Infrastructure construction will be carried out simultaneously, striving to complete the masonry and secondary structure construction of the comprehensive office building, staff canteen, and Skyworth Operations Center before the end of the year, laying a solid foundation for subsequent installation projects. On the transportation line, the railway dedicated line project has made key progress and is accelerating the land approval process to determine the final land red line as soon as possible, clearing obstacles for the construction of a "coalification intermodal" corridor.

This mega project with a total investment of 33.8 billion yuan is actually composed of four sub projects that are precisely integrated to form an industrial aircraft carrier that integrates coal and chemical industries

1. Annual production of 800000 tons of coal to olefin project: converting black coal into high-value olefin chemical products is the core of enhancing resource value and achieving clean and efficient utilization of coal.  

2. The first phase project of the No. 4 open-pit mine in the Wucaiwan mining area, with an annual output of 23 million tons, provides stable and sufficient raw material support for downstream chemical industries and is the cornerstone of the industrial chain.  

3. Zhundong Coal Chemical Integrated Railway Dedicated Line: Connecting mining areas, factories, and external mainline railways, it is the "lifeline" for efficient turnover of products and raw materials.  

4. Zhundong Coal Chemical Integrated Life Center: Providing logistical support for builders and future operators who have been rooted here for a long time, it is the support for the sustainable operation of the project.  

These four major sectors are interdependent, forming a complete closed loop from resource extraction and clean transformation to logistics transportation and living facilities. Since the project started construction in February this year, it has been advancing at full speed according to this blueprint.  

The significance of this project goes far beyond a large-scale industrial investment itself. It is an important practice for China to optimize its energy layout and promote clean utilization of coal. In today's increasingly important energy security, it has transformed Xinjiang's abundant coal resources into urgently needed chemical raw materials and clean energy for the country, enhancing the resilience and autonomy of China's energy supply. Keywords: energy news, engineering news

For the local community in Xinjiang, this is not only a huge investment and tax revenue, but also a powerful engine to drive employment, promote the development of related supporting industries, and enhance the level of regional industrialization. After the completion of the project, a significant industrial cluster effect will be formed, which will help promote the high-quality development of the local economy.Editor/Yang Meiling