Chinese refiner warns BOL against CTL investment

Friday, May 31, 2024 | 2030 Views |

On track: Botswana Oil is undeterred in its pursuit of a coal conversion project PIC: MORERI SEJAKGOMO

A major Chinese oil refiner has poured cold water on Botswana Oil’s (BOL) planned Coal to Liquids (CTL) plant project, saying the coal to be used has a high ash content, which will cause “bad economics” for the venture.

Synfuels China, a major oil refiner with operations in China, Mongolia, and Taiwan, presented this week to a technical team of local research institutions and investment agencies.

Officials from Synfuels said the CTL project will involve uphill costs as Botswana’s coal contains a lot of ash, and the cost to wash off the ash will affect efforts to make the project profitable.

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