China has created the world 's first coal to ethanol production line , according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences . Developed by Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum and the academy 's Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics in Guangdong province , the production line began operating in January , and can produce over 100,000 metric tons of pure ethanol per year , according to Liu Wei , the institute 's deputy director . China has successfully created the world's first production line to turn coal into ethanol, or drinking alcohol, the Chinese Academy of Sciences said on Friday. China intends to use the same technology in a factory that will produce 1 million tons of ethanol per annum by 2020 .
China has created the world 's first coal to ethanol production line , according to the Chinese Academy of Sciences . Developed by Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum and the academy 's Dalian Institute of Chemical Physics in Guangdong province , the production line began operating in January , and can produce over 100,000 metric tons of pure ethanol per year , according to Liu Wei , the institute 's deputy director . China intends to use the same technology in a factory that will produce 1 million tons of ethanol per annum by 2020 .