Coal

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China's coal demand to reach 2.5 bln tons by 2010 - report
06.22.2005, 07:11 AM

BEIJING (AFX) - China's annual coal demand is expected to reach 2.5 bln metric tons by the end of the decade and 2.9 bln tons by 2020, the 21st Century Business Herald reported, citing an industry source.

Guo Yuntao, director of the China Coal Industry Development Research Center, predicted coal demand for this year to hit 2.13 bln tons, the newspaper said.

Guo also said coal supply capacity is predicted to reach 1.6 bln tons in 2010 and 2.0 bln tons in 2020, leaving shortfalls of 0.5 bln tons and 1.3 bln tons respectively.

The report said coal consumption by power producers will reach 1.1 bln tons this year, 1.5 bln tons by 2010 and 1.9 bln tons by 2020.

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