China releases guideline to support reform of coal-rich province

BEIJING - China's State Council Monday made public a guideline to support the economic transformation of coal-rich Shanxi province.

By 2020, the share of coal mining and preliminary processing in the province's output should have seen a notable decline, and the share of advanced coal production capacity in the total should reach two-thirds, the guideline said.

Shanxi should raise its abilities for clean and efficient exploitation and use of coal, and increase clean energy supply, it added.

The province should also develop new strategic sectors, raise capital input for research and development, and become a base for the commercialization of coal-based scientific and technological innovations, a modern manufacturing base and a tourism demonstration zone by 2020.

Before 2030, the province should have created a clean, safe and efficient modern energy system and accumulated a batch of duplicable reform experiences, according to the guideline.

The government will support Shanxi in replacing coal with clean energy sources, including electricity and natural gas.

The province should also seek better "ecological civilization" and build a "beautiful Shanxi" by stepping up environment rehabilitation in coal mine regions, conducting strict water resource management and pushing for economical energy use.

By the end of 2015, Shanxi had held 270.9 billion tons of known coal reserves, accounting for 17.3 percent of the country's total, the third largest following Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang Uygur autonomous regions.

Coal is the main energy source in China, accounting for 62 percent of total energy consumption in 2016. China is aiming to reduce the share of coal consumption to less than 58 percent by 2020.