“There will be an oil crisis worldwide after 2020, and China’s annual oil needs will reach 450 million to 610 million tons at that time. China should speed up the development of alternative energy, especially coal-based fuel and bio-materials-based fuel,” said a draft of a report by the China’s National Development and Reform Commission and several government ministries. According to the draft, more than 50 percent of oil processed in China is used as transportation fuel. Currently, imported crude oil accounts for over 45 percent of China’s total demand for fuels.
The report recommends the use of methanol as an alternative to fossil fuels in the country’s auto industry, stating that methanol can be used in the automobile industry, and “will not cause great harm to people’s health if used in the correct way”.