China's NDRC releases new list of coal mining certificates

Platts International Coal Report
BYLINE: Reggie Le, Huaihua, Hunan Province
China's NDRC releases new list of coal mining certificates
March 24, 2008
SECTION: STEAM COAL; Pg. 6 No. 861

This article reports on the Chinese NDRC release of newly approved coal mining certificates. The certificates were awarded to new and existing coal mines which passed the 2007 coal mining capacity survey on February, 29th, 2008.
The report showed relatively even distribution of the certificates in 5 provinces, but found that Xinjiang, with over 40% of the national reserves, had only 233 certificates. Whether this disparity is due to local environmental agendas, or to an inability on the part of the existing mines to meet the 2007 survey requirements remains in doubt. Only 4 of the 31 provincial regions were without mining certificate awardees (Shanghai Municipality, Tianjin Municipality, Guangdong Province, Hainan Province, and Tibet).
With over 16,000 active coal mines, China appears to be taking action. Between the survey (whose rigor also remains unknown) and the intention to cut the number of small coal mines to 10, 000 by 2010, China is well on its way.