Xinjiang coalfield approved as development zone

China's largest integrated coalfield has been approved by the central government as a state-level economic and technological development zone.

The East Junggar coalfield in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has a planning area of about 9.8 square kilometers.

At a launching ceremony on Wednesday, Yu Xianqiang, a Ministry of Commerce official, said the development zone will contribute to the rapid development and lasting stability of Xinjiang.

Located in the Changji Hui autonomous prefecture, the East Junggar coalfield has a predicted coal reserve of 390 billion tonnes and a proven coal reserve of 213.6 billion tonnes, according to Yao Jianjun, a development zone management committee official.

The coalfield has been focusing on developing industries such as power generation and coal chemical in recent years. The coalfield has a capacity to generate 70 million tonnes of coal, 400,000 tonnes of electrolytic aluminum and 600,000 tonnes of urea per year.

More than 50 large enterprises have entered the coalfield, and a total of 900 billion yuan (144.46 billion U.S. dollars) is planned to be invested in the construction of 93 projects in the area.

Xinjiang has set up four state-level economic and technological development zones this year. The number of such zones in the region totals 19.