China’s Government Favors Coal Mine and What is the Reason?

In 2019, China’s government documents showed that sanctions for the new coal mine construction in China have risen.

Beijing, the capital of China, anticipates the consumption of the commodity to grow in the coming years. This is true even if it is battling against smog and greenhouse gas emissions.

A key part of China’s energy, environment, and climate goals are the long-term cuts in coal consumption.

Meanwhile, in the first half of 2019 suggests China’s targets still provide ample room for shorter-term growth as the fivefold increases in the new mine approvals.

In a news report, analysis of approval documents showed, a regulator of China’s energy permitted the building of 141 million tonnes of coal production capacity.

This are all for a new annual coal production capacity from January to June. It is in contrast to the previous 25 million tonnes of coal production capacity over the whole of last year.

Part of the project with a national strategy to merge output at dedicated coal production “bases” includes new mines in the regions of Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang, Shanxi, and Shaanxi.

The National Energy Administration documents also showed the expansion of existing collieries.

NEA’s Appeal for A Statement

By the end of next year, Beijing intends to raise the share of non-fossil fuels in its overall energy mix to 15% from around 14.3% currently.

It is also 20% by 2030. Last year, it cut the share of coal to 59%, down from 68.5% in 2012.

The adaption of the “highest possible ambition” was also promised with the reviews of climate change pledge next year.

One government think tank commends China to impose a mandatory cap on coal mine consumption. This is within its 2021-2025 five-year plan.

China’s government is still letting significant increases in coal mine production and coal-fired power generation.

But smog-prone regions like Hebei and Beijing have already cut coal mine. It has used and shut hundreds of small mines and power plants.

That has heaped pressure on utilities to use clean combustion technology.

A senior energy analyst with environmental group Greenpeace, Lauri Myllyvirta, said many of the newly approved projects would likely replace small or consumed old mines.