Proven Reserves of Coal Resources in Zhundong Coalfield Reaches 164 Billion Metric Tons

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Researched by Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)--After four years of surveys and investigation, the Zhundong coalfield was found to have proven reserves of about 164 billion metric tons in 2007. That's 2.65 times more compared with the total in 2003. The coalfield is in northwestern China's Xinjiang Autonomous Region and has long been called the "coal sea."

A geological survey team from the Xinjiang Geology and Mining Bureau has been conducting the surveys and investigation on the coalfield since 2004. At the end of 2007, the team discovered 11 extra-large deliverable and expandable coal mines, including three open-air mines. The estimated resources in the Zhundong Dajing-Jiangjunmiao coal mine, developed by Luneng Group (Shandong, China), reached 33.4 billion metric tons, making it the largest coal mine in single mine resource reserves in China.

By the end of 2007, there were 28 large enterprises, including China Shenhua Group and Luneng Group, stationed in the Zhundong area. They have applied for coal-resource surveys in an area of more than 4,000 square kilometers in nearly 40 plots with more than $40 million of investment. Construction for infrastructure, such as water and power supplies, highway and railway for the $820 million Zhundong Coal Power and Chemical Industry Base planned by the Government of Xinjiang Region has been on a fast track.

The Zhundong coal field is in the Zhundong Basin in Qitai and Jimusha'er counties, Changji Hui Nationality Autonomous Prefecture, and is one of six major coalfields in the Xinjiang Region with an estimated resource volume of 390.23 billion metric tons. The coalfield is simple and stable in coal layer structure, high in thickness and good in quality, the Xinjiang Geology and Mining Bureau said.

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