People's Daily:

Shanxi is a major coal-producing province and was designated as a pilot province for comprehensive energy revolution reforms in 2019. Could you please share what progress Shanxi has made in transitioning to green and low-carbon alternatives ? What are the plans for the next step? Thank you.

Jin Xiangjun:

Thank you for your questions. I will ask my colleague, Executive Vice Governor Wu Wei, to answer them.

Wu Wei:

Thank you for your questions. The CPC Central Committee has designated Shanxi as a pilot province for reform, providing us with a new path for green transformation. We have earnestly implemented the new strategy for energy security, taken bold steps to implement pilot reforms, strived to build a new energy system and worked hard to create a pioneering zone for the comprehensive energy revolution reforms in the country. Our goal is to take concrete actions to shift from being a leading coal producer to becoming a pioneer in the energy revolution.

We have comprehensively improved our energy supply level. On the basis of ensuring safety, we rely on smart and green transformations to further improve mining efficiency and ensure energy supply. Currently, all underground coal mining faces in Shanxi have achieved comprehensive mechanization; 54% of coal production capacity has realized intelligent mining; and over 80% of coal production capacity is advanced. This has attracted a large number of smart coal-mining enterprises, including Huawei's coal mine team, to establish themselves in Shanxi. Additionally, we vigorously develop unconventional natural gas and prioritize the development of new energy. The annual output of coalbed methane has exceeded 10 billion cubic meters, and the installed capacity of new and clean energy accounts for 46.4%. Notably, Shanxi ranks first in the country for delivering green electricity to other regions.

We have enacted the country's first local regulation for clean and efficient use of coal, strived to make breakthroughs in key energy technologies, promoted new green, low-carbon and energy-saving technologies, and accelerated the formation of new energy consumption models. Currently, over 90% of new buildings in the province are green buildings, and the coverage rate of clean heating in urban and rural areas is over 90%. Zhuangshang village in Yuncheng city has become the first zero-carbon energy demonstration village in China, and all buses and taxis in 11 cities' built-up areas have been replaced with new energy vehicles. In the first three years of the 14th Five-Year Plan, the province's energy consumption intensity has cumulatively decreased by 10.9%, ranking among the top in the country.

We have deepened the energy system revolution, strategically reorganized four major provincial coal enterprises, explored reforms in mineral rights, conducted pilot projects for the co-extraction of associated resources like coal and aluminum, and established the country's first electricity spot market. We continuously expand opening-up and cooperation in the energy sector, with the Taiyuan Energy Low Carbon Development Forum gaining increased recognition. We have collaborated with international organizations such as the Asian Development Bank and the European Investment Bank to implement a number of green and low-carbon development demonstration projects. We are confident and capable of successfully carrying out the pilot work, achieving new strides in high-quality development for a major energy province. Thank you!