DM Wenceslao taps DOST for coal-to-methane gas R&D

MANILA, Philippines — Construction and property development giant D.M. Wenceslao & Associates Inc. (DMWAI) has engaged the Department of Science and Technology (DOST) for  an ambitious research and development (R&D) project to convert low-grade lignite coal to methane gas for electricity or vehicular fuel.

DMWAI chairman Delfin Wenceslao Jr. said that in partnership with the DOST, they would seek to convert the lignite coal they mine from their coal concession in Iguig, Cagayan into methane gas.

He said the DOST has the equipment for the tests, including a fluidized bed gasifier.

Wenceslao said the R&D would look at building local capability in converting lignite coal to methane gas and use it to generate electricity or to serve as vehicular fuel, thereby reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels.

“Well, this could provide the country with an alternative source of fuel, non-fossil fuel and potentially reduce our dependence on fossil fuel,“ Wenceslao told The STAR in a phone interview.

DOST Secretary Fortunato dela Pena said they welcomed the joint R&D with DMWAI in view of their push to get the DOST’s scientists and researchers to undertake research that are needed by industry.

The R&D will be a collaboration that will utilize the DOST-ITDI’s technology on the gasification of coal using a bench-scale fluidized bed gasifier housed in its Chemicals and Energy Division (CED) offices.

The fluidized bed gasifier will gasify the lignite coal supplied by DMWAI for the production of syngas. The produced gas will then be converted into liquid fuel using a Fischer-Tropschsynthesis reactor for transport or other energy applications.

Dela Pena said that with the joint R&D, the coal mining industry could realize the great potential of indigenous lignite coal as an efficient source in power generation and other energy-related applications.

With this, the industry can cope up with the low demand for lignite coal and the rising cost of energy, Dela Pena said.