Proven Reserves of Coal Discovered in 2007 in Xinjiang Total 18 Billion Metric Tons

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--Last year, 45 mineral-producing sites, including coal, iron and copper mines, were discovered in northwestern China's Xinjiang Uigur Autonomous Region. The newly added proven reserves of coal resources reached 18 billion metric tons, according to the Land and Resources Department of Xinjiang Autonomous Region.

In 2007, the Xinjiang Autonomous Region conducted 30 prospective investigations on minerals resources with a total investment of $2.37 million in geological survey. As of the end of 2007, a regional geological survey covering 199,000 square kilometers was completed in the scale of 1:50,000, accounting for 12% of the region's total land area. An intermediate investigation and survey on 53 midsize and 11 large mineral-producing sites were completed.

The geological prospecting department discovered 18.98 billion metric tons of proven reserves of coal resources in mining districts such as the West Jiji Lake Coalmine of Zhundong Coalfield, and the Wucaiwan Strip Coalmine; 240 million metric tons of proven reserves of iron ore resources in mining districts such as the Dimu Nalike in Qiemo County; 253,000 metric tons of proven reserves of copper ore resources in mining districts such as the Yanxi Copper Mine in Hami City; as well as 743,000 metric tons of lead and zinc, 24,000 metric tons of nickel, 4,611 metric tons of tungsten and 16,000 metric tons of proven reserves of stibium resources, respectively, in mining districts south and north of the Tianshan Mountains.

Xinjiang, an important mineral prospecting area and a strategic resource alternative area in China, has huge potential in energy and mineral resources that has attracted worldwide attention. As of the end of 2007, there were more than 20 large enterprises, including China Shenhua Group, Luneng Group and Baosteel, that have stationed in Xinjiang Autonomous Region for the survey, investigation and development of mineral resources in the region. For the coal industry alone, the proposed investment will be more than $14.3 billion.

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