August 8, 2007 -- According to Sina Finance, since 2006, a large number of overseas enterprises and establishments, including Anglo-American Energy Group, GE Energy Group, Shell, Dow, and Sasol have all displayed strong interest in Chinese coal chemical projects.

Thailand's CP Group recently invested 13 billion yuan (US$1.7 billion) in a coal chemical project in Akesu, Xinjiang, while US Power Group invested 14 billion yuan (US$1.8 billion) in another project in Suzhou City, Anhui Province.

Statistics reveal that the total investment of these corporations and several Hong Kong corporations in the Chinese coal chemical industry amounts to as much as 382 billion yuan (US$50 billion). This is almost two thirds of the proposed investment of 600 billion yuan (US$79.3 billion) for the industry according to the 11th Five Year Plan. Almost all the projects with foreign investment in the coal chemical industry relate to major national coal chemical projects, Sina added.