The China Daily newspaper reported that the National Development and Reform Commission was seeking to establish the bases to consolidate production, improve safety and assure energy security.
The NDRC said the production bases were being planned for coal-rich regions and provinces such as Shanxi, Shaanxi and inner Mongolia, and would eventually produce a combined 1.3 billion tonnes of coal a year.
“The Government aims to make some of the bases produce at least 100 million tonnes every year to safeguard China's energy supply,” the commission said.
China Coal Information Institute president Huang Shengchu told the newspaper that the country faced demanding challenges in streamlining its coal industry and closing down small, dangerous pits.
Huang also suggested that foreign investors should be allowed to enter the coal mining industry to help improve mining safety in the country.
He said foreign companies experienced in mining safety management would assist the efficiency of the production bases and help reduce the number of mining accidents.
State Administration of Work Safety vice-administrator Zhao Tiechui said the current supply-demand situation had left China enough room to shut down its small coal mines.
He said there were plans to shut down 12,900 small pits before 2007 to improve the safety record of the industry.
As at mid-2005, China had 24,000 small coal mines with annual production capacities ranging from 10,000t to 30,000t. They accounted for 70% of the total number of coal mines in the country.
