-——but that doesn’t generate LIQUID fuels——
Of course it does. The down stream has several processes to produce more than one product. Methanol is one. The plant could be operated to produce all methanol if desired. Computers, valves , pumps you know. It’s just a matter of selecting the desired chemistry
Nope. The "direct to methanol" process with coal feedstock is far more efficient and less complex than one which goes thru methane first. BTW, I'm a chemist, so I have "some" clues about "selecting the desired chemistry". Unfortunately, methanol isn't currently as valuable as the products of the "thru methane" approach.