History, current status, and implications of the exploration and exploitation of coal resources in Guangxi, China

Objective Based on a comprehensive review of the history and current status of coal exploration and exploitation, this study presents an analysis of both the endowment characteristics and the exploration and research levels of coal resources in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. From the perspective of coal self-sufficiency capacity and energy security guarantee, this study proposes several recommendations for the exploration and exploitation of coal resources in the region.

Methods The exploration level, current status of exploitation, and supply-demand imbalance of coal resources in Guangxi are determined through a systematic literature review, surveys of coal mine enterprises, and exchanges with relevant government departments. Accordingly, the space and potential for further exploration and exploitation of coal resources in the region are evaluated.

Results In Guangxi, the cumulative identified coal resources amount to 2136 million tons. The coal-bearing areas with depths of 1500 m or less cover an area of approximately 20300 km², accounting for 8.58% of the region’s total area. Among these areas, those that have been explored span about 5065 km², representing 24.95% of the total. For the 109 county-level administrative areas of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, 74 of them host coal-bearing rock series, including four coal measures holding industrial value. The coal seams of various ages across the region generally show low stability and quality, largely characterized by high sulfur and ash contents and low calorific values, which suggest relatively poor resource endowment. Meanwhile, Guangxi exhibits a low coal self-sufficiency capacity. There exist five coal mines under normal operation currently, with annual production collectively maintained at 3‒4 million tons in recent years. However, the annual coal consumption of the region reaches up to approximately 85 million tons, accounting for 45% of its total energy consumption. As a result, the dependency of external coal supply exceeds 95%, while the self-sufficiency rate is less than 5%.

Conclusions and Recommendations  Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region faces a significant coal scarcity and a pronounced supply-demand imbalance. These limitations lead to prolonged high dependence on external coal supply and pose a severe challenge to the high-quality, sustainable economic development of the region. Accordingly, this study proposes three recommendations. First, comprehensive planning of development and safety should be highlighted. It is advisable to further tap the region’s coal resource potential and develop coal resource exploration plans while striving to maintain a stable external coal supply. These efforts will proactively promote the release of coal productivity, enhance the coal self-sufficiency capacity, and facilitate high-level, high-quality development of the coal industry in the region. Second, it is necessary to intensify coal exploration, optimize mining right zoning, and perform comprehensive exploration deployment by introducing three measures: (1) It is necessary to conduct supplementary exploration in the deep and peripheral parts of existing production mines. Targeting the complex geological conditions in the deep parts of mines, along with the objective of safe, efficient, and intelligent coal mining, fine-scale geological technical guarantee should be provided throughout the full safety lifecycle of coal mines to ensure the resource substitution and service life of production mines; (2) Resources in abandoned mines should be verified to prepare for the activation and reproduction of qualified mines; (3) The exploration level of blocks within discovered coalfields/coal-producing areas should be enhanced to provide a basis for the planning and development of mining areas. Accordingly, exploration efforts in prospective target areas should be systematically arranged to search for new coal-producing areas and increase the coal resources of the region. Last, emphasis should be placed on the collaborative exploration and comprehensive evaluation of coals and the associated minerals of coal measures. Coal-bearing zones with burial depths of over 1000 m that are difficult to exploit should be subjected to scientific and rational planning and deployment as play fairways of deep coalbed methane. The purpose is to enhance the clean and efficient comprehensive utilization level of coals.