Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, one of China’s key coal production bases, has been approved by the National Energy Administration (NEA) to start preliminary work on two coal mine projects, the regional Development and Reform Commission said recently.

On July 7, the NEA approved Xinjiang Fuyun Guanghui New Energy Co., Ltd. to start preliminary work on the Alaandaonan mine project located in the central part of Kamusite mining area in Aletai city bordering Mongolia, the commission said in a statement published on its website on July 14.

The mine is designed with an annual capacity of 12 million tonnes, and the main product is non-caking coal, which will supply a 4-billion-cubic-meter coal-to-gas project owned by Guanghui New Energy.

This is the first coal mine project approved by the NEA since the second central working meeting on Xinjiang in late May, the statement said.

Also on July 7, Tianchi Energy Co., Ltd was approved to start preliminary work on the second phase project of Dajing southern opencast mine, situated in Zhundong Dajing mining area, Jimsar County, southeastern Junggar Basin, the commission said.

The mine has a total annual capacity of 30 million tonnes, with the second phrase project at 20 million tonnes per annum. It will provide coal for power plants supplying electricity via a 1,100 kV UHV DC transmission line to East China.