The Chinese government estimated that Ningdong’s 3,500 square kilometers contain 27.3 billion tons of proven coal reserves. The project is expected to produce 130 million tons of coal per year upon completion in 2020. By comparison, the World Coal Institute estimates (link 2) that Australia, the world’s largest exporter of coal, produced approximately 343 million tons of coal in 2007. Although China is by far the world’s largest producer of coal, mining an estimated 2,549 million tons in 2007, it exports only about two percent of output.

The Industrial Base will also produce about 20 million tons of coal-chemical products, and generate around 16 million kilowatt-hours of electricity (earlier post). Approximately 100 million tons of water will be drawn from the Yellow River annually to feed the complex, which will feature two coal-to-oil conversion plants, one in collaboration with Royal Dutch Shell, and the other in collaboration with Sasol (earlier post).

It is estimated that the Ningdong complex will generate about 80,000 m³ of carbon dioxide per day (equivalent to about 144 metric tonnes per day at 25° C and 1 atm.) A project administrator in Ningdong has indicated that carbon capture and storage may be considered for the facilities in the future.

The Industrial Base project is expected to raise Ningxia’s gross domestic production as compared to other provinces. Ningxia currently ranks above only Qinghai and Tibet in GDP.

Construction also officially began this month on the Yangjiang nuclear power facility in Dongping Town, Yangjiang City. The facility will comprise six 1,080 MW nuclear reactors.