Inner Mongolia coal supply boost won't sacrifice environment

North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region – an important national energy and strategic resource base – is taking measures to boost its coal output, to ease power shortages in some areas across the country, but officials have said that won't come at the expense of the environment.

In answering the central government's call, plans are for Inner Mongolia to supply 53.64 million metric tons of coals for 18 autonomous regions, provinces and municipalities in the fourth quarter – which involves Tianjin municipality, as well as Heilongjiang, Liaoning and Jilin provinces.

The coal supply ramp-up will reportedly be implemented by 40 coal mines located in Inner Mongolia's Ordos city.

Aligned with China's green commitments and with the support of the National Development and Reform Commission, Inner Mongolia will increase its coal mine production capacity by 138 million tons this year in total.

Since September, with the implementation of various measures to boost production, coal output in Inner Mongolia has increased significantly, with an average daily output of more than 2.8 million tons. Output has stabilized at more than 3 million tons since the start of October.

On Oct 9, the daily output of coal in Inner Mongolia reached 3.27 million tons, while that of the region's main production area Ordos city reached 2.34 million tons, both the highest levels this year.

It is understood that the increase in coal production is an orderly release of existing capacity.

Inner Mongolia will adhere to a new path of high-quality development with eco-friendly priorities and green development as its guide. Senior officials said increasing coal production would never come at the expense of the environment.

Jiang Lanmei, deputy director of the Inner Mongolia Energy Bureau, stressed that such damage under the excuse of guaranteeing coal supplies would never be allowed.

The region's coal producers that are increasing output are modern coal mines with a high degree of mechanization and reliable production systems, that do not require new occupation of forests and grasslands.

The other type of producers involved is open-pit coal mines that have efficient environmental treatments in place, that meet the stringent requirements for green mine construction.

Meanwhile, joint law enforcement will be carried out by the relevant departments in Inner Mongolia to ensure that coal mines efficiently coordinate production rises and environmental restoration and conservation. This will ensure that various measures such as ecological and environmental protection are being implemented.