I don’t know - the Japanese pursued this for a while. DME is not a perfect substitute ... diesel engines have to be modified ... But for Countries like Japan and Israel - having smaller countries to convert to DME use could be motivated by having a more self-sufficient source of fuel. I used to go to greencarcongress.com for this sort of information. Great resource.
Sasol and Shell are already successful in a different GTL (Gas-To-Liquid) technology. Both have reached a point where their past commercial productions in lower cost countries have made them believe it could be economic in the US.
Creating a fuel that does not require a change in our existing vehicles or delivery infrastructure is likely to be the method with the quickest growth, if economic.
Sasol One Step Closer to Huge U.S. Gas-To-Liquids Plant
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2982330/posts
Shell: world’s biggest gas-to-liquids plant to start soon
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2731066/posts