Emerging industries to remake old coal mining areas

China aims to accelerate transformation and upgrades of so-called old coal mining areas, meaning those with coal reserves depletion or within 20 years, and will put efforts into cultivating a batch of competitive enterprises with distinctive features and a cluster of bases for nationally strategical emerging industries out of the old coal mines by 2025, according to a guideline released by the China National Coal Association on Friday.

Deeply integrated with new industries and new business forms, old coal mining areas will be injected with new momentum to make breakthroughs in fulfilling upgrades, the guideline said.

By 2025, output from emerging industries in the old coal mining areas should account for about 70 percent or more of the overall industrial output. The pillar role of strategically emerging industries for economic growth should become increasingly clear, and internal growth momentum should be continuously enhanced, and core competitiveness and comprehensive advantages of enterprises should be further strengthened, it said.

The nation will also keep enhancing industrial structure and innovative capabilities of old coal mining areas while improving the environment.

Integration and interaction among different industries will be promoted on the basis of quality resources in the old mining areas, to improve digitalization, green development, industrial park establishment and brand image of the mining areas.

The guideline also asked the old coal mining areas to build a cluster of key industrial innovation platforms and infrastructure, to make breakthroughs in areas such as big data services, intelligent mines, new energy, new materials, and energy storage, and to contribute to the establishment of national or international standards.

By 2025, a group of nationally leading green and low-carbon industrial parks, nationally well-known medical and healthcare facilities, and regionally influential tourism destinations will be established in the old coal mining areas.

The old coal mining areas are also part of further opening-up. They aim to improve foreign investment utilization and make progress in the construction of the Belt and Road and international capacity cooperation. Exports in coal mining equipment and high-value productive services are also expected to increase.