22-05-02 China's Shanxi Province plans to change from a major coal production centre into a major coal-fuelled power production centre during the country's Tenth Five-year-Plan (2001-2005) period. It will invest RMB 36 bn ($ 4.34 bn) in power construction and expects an additional installed capacity of 7.6 mm kWh by 2005.

Shanxi is China's major coal production centre. Of north China's 6 construction projects for the West-East Power Transmission Project, with a total generating capacity of 6.46 mm kWh, 4 are in Shanxi Province, with a total generating capacity of 4.6 mm kWh, reported Zhongguo Gongdian Xinxi Wang. In addition, 4 provincial power projects, with a total installed capacity of 4 mm kWh, will be put into use by 2005.

When all 8 projects are put into use by 2005, the province will directly consume 26 mm tpy of coal, driving up the GDP by 2-3 % and resulting in annual additional local tax revenue of RMB 2-3 bn ($ 241.55-362.32 mm).