The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology announced on Nov 18 that the Yulin-Ordos-Ningdong Modern Coal Chemical Cluster has been recognized as a national advanced manufacturing cluster.

The cluster is jointly constructed by Ordos city, Yulin city, and Ningdong Energy Chemical Industry Base.

Ordos has been transforming and upgrading its traditional energy industry and vigorously developing green energy in recent years. It has also built the Ordos Modern Coal Chemical Industry Demonstration Zone and a strategic base for coal-to-oil and gas.

The city is exploring integrating modern coal chemical processes with green hydrogen production and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). It is also actively promoting the research and industrial application of coal-based special fuels and coal-based biodegradable materials.

In 2023, the Ordos Modern Coal Chemical Cluster achieved an output value exceeding 208 billion yuan ($28.77 billion), with a total coal chemical production capacity of 21.51 million metric tons, accounting for 36 percent of the national market share.

The cluster has established multiple industrial chains, including coal-to-oil and gas, coal-to-methanol olefins, coal-to-ethylene glycol, and coal-based new materials.

This has resulted in seven distinct economic development zones, highlighting the cluster's strong industrial agglomeration.