China's first coal extraction project undersea will begin in the fourth quarter and formally put out coal by the yearend, as learned from coal officials from Shanxi Province.

Exploration and extraction of coalfields undersea involve sophisticated technologies only mastered by a few countries as the United States, Britain and Canada. This is the first time for China to try such a coalmine.

The project is conducted at the Beizao coalmine in Bohai Bay, Shandong. Repeated exploration and studies proved that the undersea part of the coalfield covers an area of some 150 square kilometers with a reserve around 800 million tons.

By People's Daily Online