China's coal-to-oil conversion projects could be terminated amid concerns that reductions in the country's dependence on oil imports could come at too high a price, AP reported. "Liquefied coal projects consume a lot of energy, though the successful industrialization of liquefied coal could help reduce the country's dependence on petroleum," a National Development and Reform Commission official told state media. There are also concerns about the amount of water that such projects require. Meanwhile, scientists have warned that the total amount of greenhouse gases released could actually rise with the use of liquid coal due to the pollutants generated by fuel burned in the production process. A US Environmental Protection Agency report published in April said the use of liquid coal could lead to a 119% increase in greenhouse gases released per barrel of fuel if production and vehicle emissions were counted.