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Coal in China

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Entrance to a small coal mine in China
A coal shipment underway in China
An operating power plant in China

The People's Republic of China is the largest user of coal power in the world, getting some 80% of its energy from the source as of 2005, with hydroelectric supplying another 16%.[1] With approximately 13 percent of the world's proven reserves, China has enough coal to sustain its economic growth for a century or more even though demand is currently outpacing production.[2] China's coal mining industry is the deadliest in the world and has the world's worst safety record[3] where an average of 13 people die every day in the coal pits, compared to 30 per year for coal power in the United States.[4] Output rose 8.1% in 2006 over the previous year, reaching 2.38 billion tons, and the nation's largest coal enterprises saw their profits exceed 67 billion yuan, or $8.75 billion.[5]

While China boasts the greatest use of coal power, it is 3rd in the world in terms of total coal reserves behind the United States and Russia. Most reserves are located in the north and north-west of the country, which poses a large logistical problem for supplying electricity to the more heavily populated coastal areas.[1] Coal power is managed by the State Power Grid Corporation.

It is expected that capacity will rise to 852 GWe in 2010 and 1330 GWe in 2020.

The dominant technology in the country is coal pulverization in lieu of the more advanced and preferred coal gasification. China's move to a more open economy in the 1990s is cited as a reason for this, where the more immediately lucrative pulverization technology was favored by businesses. There are plans in place for an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) type plant by 2010.[6] Furthermore, less than 15% of plants have desulphurization systems.[7]

Carbon footprint

In 2001 the carbon emissions from coal use in China made up about 10% of world CO2 emissions, which totaled 23,899 million metric tons.[8] It is believed that a continued increase in coal power in China may undermine international initiatives to decrease carbon emissions such as the Kyoto Protocol, which called for a decrease of 483 million tons by 2012. In the same time frame, it is expected that coal plants in China will have increased CO2 emissions by 1,926 million tons - over 4 times the proposed reduction.[9]

Fossil Fuel-related CO2 Emissions in China, 1998-2003 (in millions of metric tons of CO2)
  1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003
CO2 from coal 2,363 2,287 2,339 2,472 2,518 2,731
CO2 from natural gas 47 51 57 64 69 72
CO2 from petroleum 531 566 636 653 686 737
Total CO2 from all fossil fuels 2,940 2,905 3,033 3,190 3,273 3,541
Source: DOE/EIA

China's first coal-fired power station employing carbon capture and storage is planned to begin operations in 2009 at Tianjin near Beijing. The $1bn, 650 MW plant will be a joint venture between a group of state-owned enterprises and Peabody Energy.[10]

Coal Mine fires

It is estimated that coal mine fires in China burn about 200 million tons of coal each year. Small illegal fires are frequent in the northern region of Xinjiang. Local miners may use abandoned mines for shelter and intentionally set such fires for heat. One study estimates that this translates into 360 million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year, which is not included in the previous emissions figures.[11]

Coal Production

Coal for domestic use being transported by use of a bike
Year Coal Production (Billion ton)
2000 1.00
2001 1.11
2002 1.42
2003 1.61
2004 2.00
2005 2.19
2006 2.38
2007 2.62
2008 2.76 (projected)

Demand for coal in China continues to increase, and it is estimated that it will be around 3.06 billion tons in 2010. Currently, China is a net exporter of coal, exporting 25.1 million tons in 2006 and decreasing to 2 million tons in 2007. Furthermore, it is expected that demand will soon exceed production due to factors such as a government crackdown on mines that are unsafe, polluting, or wasteful. Some may also be shut down for the 2008 Summer Olympics.[12]

Imports

China became a net importer for the first time for 2007.[13]

  • Vietnam is the largest supplier of coal to China at 24.6m tonnes for 2007.[13]
  • Australia exported 4.52m tonnes for 2007.[13]

Deaths

While not directly attributable, many more deaths are resultant from dangerous emissions from coal plants. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), linked to exposure to fine particulates, SO2, and cigarette smoke among other factors, accounted for 26% of all deaths in China in 1988.[14]

Cases of direct deaths associated with coal mining, processing, and usage include:

2005

  • On February 14, 2005 Over 214 miners were killed in the 2005 Sunjiawan mine disaster
  • On March 19, 2005 an explosion at the Xishui Colliery and neighboring Kangjiayao coal mines killed 72.[15]
  • On July 11, 2005 an explosion at the Shenlong mine killed 83.[15]
  • On November 27, 2005 171 miners will killed by a blast in the Heilongjiang providence. The mine owner (plus 5 others) was later tried in court for negligence and sentenced to 6 years in prison.[16]

2006

  • On February 1, 2006 the Sihe coal mine in Shanxi killed 32 miners.[15]
  • On May 18, 2006 an Induation disaster at the Xinjing coal mine in the Shanxi providence killed 56 miners.[15]
  • On July 15, 2006 at the Linjiazhuang coal mine in Shanxi an explosion killed 50 people with seven more missing.[15]
  • On November 5, 2006 at the Jiaojiazhai coal mine in Shanxi an explosion killed 40 with seven more missing.[15]

2007

  • In March 2007, over 100 were killed in 8 tragedies.[17]
  • In August 2007, 181 miners died when heavy rains flooded two mines in eastern Shandong province.[18]
  • A coal mine gas leak on November 11, 2007 had at least 35 confirmed deaths.[19]
  • On December 6, 2007 105 workers died in a mine blast.[4]

Unofficial estimates often estimate death tolls at twice the official number reported by the government.[20] Since 1949 over 250,000 coal mining deaths have been recorded.[5] However, since 2002, the death toll gradually decreases while the coal production nearly doubles in the same period.

By year

A Chinese coal miner at the Jin Hua Gong Mine
Year Number of accidents Deaths
2000 2,863 5,798
2001 3,082 5,670
2002 4,344 6,995
2003 4,143 6,434
2004 3,639 6,027
2005 3,341 5,986
2006 2,945 4,746
2007 3,770

Source: State Administration of Work Safety[21]

References

  1. ^ a b Uranium Information Centre. Nuclear power in China.
  2. ^ Peter Fairley, Technology Review. Part I: China's Coal Future, January 5, 2007.
  3. ^ BBC News. China orders bosses down mines. 7 November 2005.
  4. ^ a b BBC News. 105 die in China mine explosion. December 7, 2007.
  5. ^ a b International Herald Tribune. Chinese coal industry in need of a helping hand
  6. ^ Technology Review. Part II: China's Coal Future, To prevent massive pollution and slow its growing contribution to global warming, China will need to make advanced coal technology work on an unprecedented scale.
  7. ^ Wikinvest:China's Coal Power Pollution.
  8. ^ EIA data, via Info Please.
  9. ^ The Christian Science Monitor. New coal plants bury 'Kyoto'. December 23, 2004.
  10. ^ "China's first carbon capture & storage plant to be operational by 2009". Power Engineering International. 2007-12-31. Retrieved 2008-01-13. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ Mines and Communities Website. A Burning Issue. February 14, 2003.
  12. ^ The Age. China coal shortage to continue. January 16, 2008.
  13. ^ a b c FT.com / Asia-Pacific / China - Australia loses market share in China’s coal
  14. ^ China and Coal.
  15. ^ a b c d e f China mine disasters
  16. ^ BBC News. China jails five over mine blast.
  17. ^ International Federation of Chemical, Energy, Mine and General Workers' Unions. Rash of China Coal Mine Deaths Occur in March. 26 March 2007.
  18. ^ USA Today. Death toll rises to 70 in China coal mine blast.
  19. ^ Terra Daily. China coal mine death toll rises to 35. November 11, 2007.
  20. ^ World Socialist Website. China’s coal mining deaths spiral. August 3, 2002.
  21. ^ Mines and Communities Website. China and US coal disasters. 7th January 2006.
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