Mitsubishi Heavy developing coal-to-liquid compressors

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., Japan’s biggest machinery maker, said it was developing ultra-heavy duty compressors for use in coal-to-liquid plants as demand for the alternative energy is expected to grow. Energy firms like Royal Dutch Shell and China’s Shenhua Energy are developing coal-to-liquid plants as soaring oil prices are making such technology more commercially viable. Mitsubishi Heavy last year built one of the world’s largest testing facilities for ultra-heavy duty compressors in Hiroshima, and has a nearly 25% share of the global compressor market in the petrochemical and oil refining fields. (September 13, 2007)