Yue Guo deputy general manager of Shenhua Coal Liquefaction Co., Ltd. said that the methanol has more potential than other substitute fuels such as ethanol and dimethyl ether to become the most efficient alternative to traditional fuels. As the government has delayed creating a national fuel standard for methanol because it is toxic when unfiltered and causes a lot wear and tear on vehicle engines.
At a workshop in mid April 2009, the China Petroleum and Chemical Industry Association (CPCIA) has announced that it is lobbying the central government to issue a clear standard for methanol and offer incentives to promote it as a fuel in order to reduce China’s reliance on imported oil.
The CPCIA said that methanol will become an important alternative fuel in China over the next 20 to 30 years once the government creates the standard.