China is likely to produce over 2.5 billion tons of coal in
2007, up five percent from last year, said Wang Xianzheng, deputy
director of the State Administration of Work Safety.
The growth compares with an average annual rate of 11.5 percent
over the last seven years when China's coal output rose from 1.25
billion tons in 2000 to 2.38 billion tons in 2006.
"Continuous rise in coal output supported China's fast economic
growth," said Wang.
But as coal causes serious pollution, the government has put the
development of renewable energy high on its agenda.
A plan announced last month said China will increase the portion
of renewable energy to 15 percent in its total energy consumption
in 2020.
(Xinhua News Agency October 7, 2007)