China on the move: Coal Industry produces clean energy

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Global warming is demanding countries strike a balance between development and the environment. As the search for clean energy goes on, China is making good on its commitment to cutting emissions. Our reporter Wang Mangmang finds out how it's being done in the country's mining center of Shanxi.

A fast growing economy with increasing energy needs. But the environment is paying the price.

China depends on coal for more than seventy percent of its energy. But methane from coal mines is one of the world's biggest sources of greenhouse gases.

Xie Kechang, Vice Chairman of China Assoc. for Science & Technology, said, "So what do we do? We must utilize coal in a cleaner and more efficient way. This includes various technologies, from its exploitation, which is the source, to its processing, and eventually to its market use."

The north province of Shanxi Province is the center of the country's mining industry.

Mining fuels Shanxi's economy and jobs.

The coal industry plays an integral role in China's development. Rapid growth requires sustainable energy. One solution is the coal mine methane project. The potentially harmful gas can produce clean energy for homes and companies. The technology is China's first step to a safer and greener coal industry.

The Jincheng Anthracite Mining Group started exploring methane capture and use in 1995.

Four years ago, it became a pilot project with an investment of two point two billion yuan.