The device on the Gobi Desert ignited and roared, and the first coal to olefin project in Xinjiang was successfully launched in one go, with snow-white polyolefin particles rolling down from the discharge outlet. From then on, the buried Wujin transformed from fuel to raw material, and a butterfly transformation from black to white quietly began in the western desert.

A piece of black gold refined into white granules

The first national level green factory in the coal chemical industry and the first national level water efficiency leader in the coal to olefin industry, with an overall international advanced level and some internationally leading technologies. To overcome the challenges of low reaction yield and high energy consumption in MTO units that have already been put into operation, the design team has explored the patented methanol to olefin technology SHMTO with independent intellectual property rights, which leads the industry in energy, water, and coal consumption per unit product. We have also collaborated with research institutions to develop domestically produced catalysts for large-scale methanol synthesis plants. Through performance calibration by the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Federation, we have successfully completed the localization and application of core equipment such as polypropylene powder conveying fans, gasifier process burners, and polyethylene extruder templates, enabling the independent controllability of coal chemical core catalysts and setting a demonstration for independent innovation in coal chemical industry in Xinjiang region.

Blue bag crosses the country door

The project will make good use of Xinjiang's resource location advantages, anchor the construction of free trade zones, and promote the export of polyolefin products. In 2022, we achieved a breakthrough of zero exports for the first time. In 2023, we opened the Central Asia Railway International Intermodal Transport. By 2024, our export volume will double. In 2025, we will welcome Central Asian customers to purchase whole trains. By 2026, we will successfully shape the Central Asia Blue Bag brand and connect with overseas markets such as South America, Africa, Europe, and Southeast Asia. As of September 2026, we will have exported over 190000 tons of polyolefins. We also conduct long-term research and development of high value-added polyolefin products covering six major series to meet the personalized and high-end needs of end-users. In Uzbekistan's food packaging factory, customers recognize the stability and excellence of the products, and even customers spontaneously come to purchase with the outer packaging bags, leading to a continuous increase in brand reputation.

Green is the foundation of development

Enterprises invest a large amount of environmental protection funds to upgrade and renovate facilities, promote the upgrading of VOCs emission standards, and the emission indicators are far below the national ultra-low emission standards; Implementing water-saving and defogging, sludge drying, and crystal salt upgrading reforms, awarded the title of Water Efficiency Leader of Key Water Using Enterprises by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in 2024; Crystalline salt is fully utilized as a resource, achieving harmless and reduced utilization of solid waste. It has been selected as one of the first batch of waste free enterprises. To support the dual carbon goal, the largest CCUS supporting pipeline project in Xinjiang's coal chemical industry was completed in 2023. As of August 2026, the cumulative export volume exceeded 660000 tons, with a carbon dioxide capture capacity of 1.1 million tons per year, leading the way in the comprehensive utilization of carbon dioxide in the coal chemical industry. Keywords: Xinjiang Chemical Industry, Coal to Olefins

Nowadays, a series of international special trains carrying high-quality polyolefin products are heading far away, not only conveying the hard core strength of China's coal chemical industry, but also carrying the beautiful vision of sharing the achievements of green development with the world.Editor/Min Jing