Title: Coal market outlook in China

Authors: Yu Zhufeng, Zheng Xingzhou

Addresses: China University of Mining and Technology, D11, Xueyuan Road, Beijing 100083; and Clean Coal Engineering and Research Center of Coal Industry, Hepingli, Beijing 100013, China. ' China National Coal Association, No. 21, Hepinlibeijie, Hepingli, Beijing 100713, China

Abstract: Coal is the major primary energy source in China. It is forecast that coal will account for over 60% of the primary energy consumption mix, and the total coal demand will reach 2.3-2.9 billion tons in 2020. However, ensuring the coal supply will be faced with a lot of obstacles in fields such as the degree of detailed exploration of coal reserves, the level of mining technology and mine safety, the production capacity building of mines, transport conditions, and ecological and environmental impacts. More comprehensive measures should be adopted, including improvements in energy efficiency, strengthening coal production and transportation capacity, to rationalise coal mine disposition and the coal production structure, and to raise the levels of coal mining technologies and mine safety management, etc.

Keywords: China; coal markets; coal prediction; energy forecast; energy consumption; coal demand; coal supply; energy efficiency; coal production; transportation capacity; coal reserves; mining technology; mine safety; ecological impact; environmental impact.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGEI.2005.007771

International Journal of Global Energy Issues, 2005 Vol.24 No.3/4, pp.211 - 227

Published online: 15 Sep 2005 *

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