10 Mar 2010 09:50

Zhundong Coalfield aims to produce 30 mln tons in 2010

Shanghai. March 10. INTERFAX-CHINA - Infrastructure improvements will help boost the output of the Zhundong Coalfield in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region to the regional government's target of 30 million tons this year, the government said on March 10.

The roads, railways, and power and water lines around the Zhundong Coalfield have been significantly improved over the past few years thanks to RMB 3.5 billion ($512.45 million) in infrastructure investment, the Xinjiang government said.

Construction of three thermal power plants and five coal-chemical projects is scheduled to start this year near the coalfield to take advantage of its vast resources, the government said.

The 14,000-square-kilometer Zhundong Coalfield has proven coal reserves of 213.6 billion tons. The coalfield is being developed by 43 large Chinese coal firms, including Lu'an Group of Shanxi Province and Shenhua Group Corp. Ltd., China's largest coal producer.

-WV