Prodn. of MeOH by (i) gasification of bituminous coal or lignite and Shell technoL, and (ii) conventional steam reforming of CH4, for annual capacities of 0.5 and 2.6 Tg for variant (i) and 0.5 Tg for variant (ii) were compared. The CH4 reforming was the most efficient process. The gasification of bituminous coal for MeOH prodn. was more efficient than that of lignite.