Governor Mead Opens China Coal Conference

Wyoming Governor Matt Mead is in Shaanxi Province with other Wyoming state officials, Gillette Mayor Tom Murphy, representatives and students from the University of Wyoming as well as U.S. energy officials and energy industry executives for the 2012 International Advanced Coal Technologies Conference. This is part of an ongoing collaboration among the University of Wyoming, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization – Australia’s national science agency – and Chinese counterparts to discuss advanced coal technologies.

At the opening of this international coal conference in China, Governor Mead said Wyoming is eager to capitalize on attracting diversified economic opportunities that add value to diversified natural resources.

At an opening news conference, Governor Mead and Shaanxi Provincial Governor Zhao Zhengyong discussed advancing the collaborative relationship between Wyoming and Shaanxi Province, which share a reliance on natural resources, tourism and agriculture as economic drivers.

Both governors agreed that continuing the relationship between Wyoming and Shaanxi Province offers many benefits now and in the future.

China has a strong demand for coal-fired energy. It is currently a leader in applying the most advanced coal technologies available; as such, it is a prime testing location for new coal technologies.

The conference, which ran yesterday and today in Xi’an, will include a discussion about coal chemical technologies, a number of sessions about carbon dioxide use, management and storage. The conference kicked off with presentations on the status and future development trends of energy and the chemical industry in Shaanxi Province, Wyoming and Queensland, Australia.

Two days of presentations will be followed by two days of field trips to view advanced coal facilities in Shaanxi Province.