Energy

Inner Mongolia to produce one-fourth of China's coal by 2015

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-10 16:31

HOHHOT - North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region will increase it coal-producing capacity to 1 billion tons in 2015, one-fourth of the country's total, local authorities said Saturday.

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The region saw its annual coal output soaring from 114.5 million tons in 2002 to 637 million tons in 2009, replacing Shanxi province as China's biggest coal producer.

Inner Mongolia will keep its coal output at around 700 million tons this year, and will shut down all small mines with annual output of less than 300,000 tons, the region's coal industry bureau said.

It will also reduce the number of coal companies from 350 at present to 180 and form two mining giants with annual output of 100 million tons through mergers and acquisitions, the bureau said.

The region, which has the country's largest proven coal reserve of 732.3 billion tons, will also invest more on the coal chemical industry to boost value added.