China eyes modern coal industry by 2030 for secure, green energy mix

中国着眼于到 2030 年实现现代煤炭工业，实现安全、绿色的能源组合

BEIJING, Aug. 11 (Xinhua) -- China aims to establish a modern coal industry system by 2030 as the country seeks to balance energy security with green transition, according to a recently issued development plan.

新华社北京8月11日电——据最近发布的发展规划，中国的目标是于2030年建立起现代化煤炭工业体系，以寻求能源安全和绿色转型的平衡。

The plan, released Monday by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration, said China will accelerate the optimization and upgrading of its coal industry structure during the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-2030) as the country's coal consumption is expected to peak.

国家发展改革委和国家能源局周一发布的该计划称，随着中国煤炭消费将达到预计峰值，中国将在“十五五”期间（2026-2030年）加快煤炭产业结构优化升级。

It calls for higher access standards for coal resource development, greater efforts to develop advanced production capacity, the orderly phase-out of outdated and inefficient capacity, and a prudent approach to the exploitation of deep coal resources.

国家能源局要求提高煤炭资源开发准入标准，加大先进产能开发力度，有序淘汰落后低效产能，审慎开采深层煤炭资源。

By 2030, large modern coal mines are expected to account for 87 percent of China's total coal production capacity, while intelligent mines will make up 75 percent. The country's five major coal supply bases are expected to contribute more than 80 percent of national output, according to the plan.

到2030年，大型现代化煤矿预计将占中国煤炭总产能的87%，而智能化矿井将占75%。根据该计划，中国五大煤炭供应基地预计将贡献全国煤炭总产量的80%以上。

An intelligent coal mine is a digitally connected and highly-automated worksite that uses AI and real-time data to optimize mining operations, while minimizing human intervention and hazards.

智能煤矿是数字连接和高度自动化的一个工作场所，其使用人工智能和实时数据来优化采矿作业，同时将人工干预和危险最小化。

Coal remains an important pillar of China's energy security as the country accelerates its green transition. China aims to peak coal consumption by 2030 and increase the share of non-fossil energy in total energy consumption to 25 percent, putting greater emphasis on cleaner, more efficient and intelligent coal production and use.

虽然中国加速绿色转型，但煤炭仍然是中国能源安全的重要支柱。中国的目标是到2030年达到煤炭消费峰值，非化石能源占能源消费总量的比重提高到25%，更加注重煤炭生产和使用的清洁、高效和智能化。

Guided by the latest plan, China's coal industry is expected to become increasingly concentrated during the 2026-2030 period, with smaller mines prone to accidents and those with depleted resources exiting the market at a faster pace, said Qu Yang, a researcher with the Coal Industry Planning and Design Research Institute.

煤炭工业规划设计研究院研究员曲阳表示，在最新规划的指导下，预计在2026-2030年期间，中国煤炭行业将变得更集中，小型矿井容易发生事故，资源枯竭的矿井将以更快的速度退出当前市场。

The plan calls for actively promoting clean substitution for coal, significantly improving the quality of commercial coal, accelerating the transformation and upgrading of coal-fired power generation, and orderly expanding the use of coal as an industrial feedstock.

《方案》要求，积极推进煤炭清洁替代，明显提高商品煤质量，加快燃煤发电转型升级，有序扩大煤炭作为工业原料的使用。

The plan also urges scaled-up development and utilization of coalbed methane, which offers multiple benefits, such as improving coal mine safety, boosting clean energy supply and cutting greenhouse gas emissions.

该计划还敦促大规模开发和利用煤层气，这提供了多种好处，如提高煤矿安全、增加清洁能源供应和减少温室气体排放。

According to an annex to the plan, China aims to produce 26 billion cubic meters of coalbed methane and utilize 6.5 billion cubic meters of coal mine gas by 2030.

根据该计划的附件所述，中国的目标是到2030年生产260亿立方米煤层气，利用65亿立方米煤矿瓦斯。