December 04, 2008

Shanxi proves additional coal reserve of 8.8 billion tonnes

It is reported that North China's Shanxi Province, the country's largest coal producer, has proved additional coal reserves of 8.8 billion tonnes since 2004.

According to the statistics released on the bureau's website, the newly found coal reserves added up to 8.45 billion tonnes from 2004 to 2006.

An official with the Shanxi Provincial Bureau of State Land and Resources was quoted as saying that the overall coal reserves of the province amount to more than 260 billion tonnes. He said that with an estimated annual coal reserve consumption of 1.2 billion tonnes, supply to the country's coal industry can be guaranteed for at least 200 years.

The annual coal production of Shanxi is 580 million tonnes.