SK Energy eyes China’s coal chemical sector

South Korea’s top refiner, SK Energy Co., has signed a preliminary deal with Zaozhuang Coal Mining Group Co., a Chinese state-run coal producer, to cooperate in the coal-based chemical business. Under the deal, SK Energy will assess the economic feasibility of the projects. Zaozhuang Coal Mining, which was established in 1998, has business lines raning from coal production and power generation to chemicals. (November 19, 2010)