Abstract: A kinetic model for Shenfu (SF) coal liquefaction catalyzed by Ni-Mo-S/Al₂O₃ was built by using lumped kinetic method, where the liquefaction products were fractioned by solvents. The model has considered the mutual transformations among coal, preasphaltene (PA), asphaltene (AS) and oil in the process, in which a series of consecutive, parallel, regressive and coking reactions were integrated. The results showed that the process of SF coal liquefaction catalyzed by Ni-Mo-S/Al₂O₃ can be well simulated by the model; based on this kinetic model, the activation energy of SF coal liquefaction is 125~244 kJ/mol. There exist obviously regressive reactions of oil and gas to AS and AS to PA at high liquefaction temperature. Moreover, the coking reactions of AS and PA to coke may take place when the liquefaction temperature exceeds 420℃.