Guangdong and coal

From Global Energy Monitor

Coal plants in Gansu

For a full list and map of all coal plants in Guangdong Province, China, go to CoalSwarm's Global Coal Plant Tracker and choose Region East Asia, Map China - Guangdong.

History

Guangdong boasts rich mineral resources. Guagndong is one of the main coal importers in southeastern China’s coastal areas. Its coal deposits are put at 547 million tons. Guangdong province imported 4.12 million tonnes coal in May, 2011, hitting a historical high. Also in May, 2011, Coal stockpiles at power plants increased to 1 million tonnes, mostly imported. Currently, Guangzhou port has more than 2.8 million tonnes coal in stock.[1] The region is about 79,800 square km (69,421 square miles.) It has a population of 104,303,132 as of 2010 census sharing 7.79% of Mainland China's population.

Citizen action, protests, and repression

December 2011: Thousands protest new coal plant

On December 20, 2011, tens of thousands of residents in "a key economic area" of China’s southern Guangdong Province gathered in the streets, occupying a highway to demonstrate against an existing coal plant and the development of a new coal plant near Shantou city -- Huaneng Shantou Haimen Power Plant Phase II Unit 4. The residents say existing coal plants in the area are already fouling local air and water, making people sick and damaging their livelihoods. Police moved in with tear gas, according to CNN, who also said the protest was initially censored on Twitter by the Chinese government.

According to Climate Progress: "Each year, protests spring up to counter the construction of dirty coal plants. But this appears to be the biggest yet. Officials now say they will abandon plans to build a new coal plant in the area. Two people were reportedly killed in clashes with police, but the government is denying those reports."[2]

Articles and resources

References

  1. [http://en.sxcoal.com/58492/NewsShow.html , " Guangdong May coal imports top 4 mln T"] China Coal Resource, June, 2011.
  2. Stephen Lacey, "Video: 30,000 Chinese ‘Occupy’ Highway to Protest Polluting Coal Plants" Think Progress, Dec. 21, 2011.

Related GEM.wiki articles

External resources

External articles