South China's Guangdong Province, an economic powerhouse, has imported more than 10 million tons of coal last year, the provincial customs statistics revealed.

 

According to statistics, the volume of coal imports hit a record 10.52 million tons, up 69.3 percent over the previous year.

 

The total coal imports topped US$480 million, double the increase range in the previous year.

 

In last December alone, Guangdong Province imported 1.456 million tons of coal, setting the record of coal import for a single month.

 

Guangdong has a massive demand of 80 million tons of coal a year. It has an annual shortage of 70 million tons. Its coal import volume has been on the rise over recent years due to the impediment of domestic transport conditions.

 

The customs ascribed the surge of coal import to the domestic coal mine rectification and a brisk demand in the region.

 

(Xinhua News Agency January 24, 2006)