InterFax

Shanghai.  July  4. INTERFAX-CHINA - The Shandong Provincial Institution of Geological  Surveying and Mapping found a giant coalfield  recently in Changji  Prefecture  of  Xinjiang  Autonomous  Region,  an official said Tuesday.

The coalfield is located east of the Junggar Basin and covers an area of 118 sq m. The estimated reserves of the coalfield reaches 6.25 bln tons. A senior  official  surnamed  Li  told  Interfax  that  they  found  the coalfield during their surveying of polymetallic mines.

However, Li said that the institution had not been authorized to exploit the area  yet.  And  he  said  that they planned to cooperate with other companies to develop the coalfield.

The Shandong  Provincial Institution of Geological Surveying and Mapping also found  a  large  coalfield, with 1.39 bln tons of coal reserves, in Xinjiang.  According  to  Li,  development  has  not started in this one either.