China's railway departments are ramping up coal transport to ensure a stable power supply for winter heating, which began in northern China in mid-November.
In colder regions of the country, many urban homes are kept warm by a centralized heating plant. While these plants are increasingly powered by natural gas, some areas still rely on coal to ensure residents enjoy safe and comfortable temperatures.
Currently, coal trains are departing from Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, home of the largest coal field in China, and heading to power plants in cities like Qingtongxia and Yinchuan in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region to meet the winter power needs there.
"We have increased the number of 10,000-ton freight trains on busy sections, such as the Aksu-Kashgar segment of the southern Xinjiang railway and the Urumqi-Junggar Basin Railway. The daily number of trains has increased from 22 pairs to 32 pairs," said Yu Yang, shift supervisor at the dispatch center of the China Railway Urumqi Bureau Group.
North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, which accounts for about a quarter of the country's coal production, supplies coal to meet the demand of 29 provinces, regions, and cities nationwide.
With winter's arrival, coal-producing companies in the region are entering their busy period, delivering coal to different areas to meet higher demand.
"Currently, our company's two coal mines are working at full capacity, producing 33,000 tons of coal every day. All of the coal transportation requests for trains have been fully fulfilled," said Qin Xiqing, director of railway business at Bayin Mengke Huosheng Coal Supply in Ordos City.
The region's railway departments have also stepped up efforts to ensure a steady coal supply.
"The daily coal loading and shipment volume has increased by about 20 percent compared to earlier, now reaching over 21 trains and around 70,000 tons," said Li Xingao, a deputy manager at the railway logistics center in Baotou City.
Since November, daily coal shipments on the railways in central and western Inner Mongolia have reached 502,000 tons, up more than 40 percent compared to last year.
China strengthens coal rail transport to secure heating supply in north
