PORTS AND COAL TRANSFER - HUB OF CHINA ENERGY SUPPLY POLICY

Coal is the prime energy source in China and, accordingly, its movemen t greatly influences infrastructure development there. Fundamental to this development is the coordination of interlocking transport modes. Because energy producing and consuming regions are geographically dist inct, coal movement rests on the adequate provision of railways and co astal shipping. Hitherto that provision has been lacking, and the coun try has paid a high price in consequence. Recently, large-scale infras tructure programmes have been initiated to remedy this situation. Port s and their attendant railway connections in northern China are centra l to these efforts, as the paper explains.