Guangdong and coal

Table 1: Proposed coal plants
For a country-wide table of proposed coal plants, see Proposed coal plants in China. Note: Table columns may be sorted by clicking on the header.

History
Guangdong boasts rich mineral resources. Guagndong is one of the main coal importers in southeastern China’s coastal areas. Its coal deposits are put at 547 million tons. Guangdong province imported 4.12 million tonnes coal in May, 2011, hitting a historical high. Also in May, 2011, Coal stockpiles at power plants increased to 1 million tonnes, mostly imported. Currently, Guangzhou port has more than 2.8 million tonnes coal in stock. The region is about 79,800 square km (69,421 square miles.) It has a population of 104,303,132 as of 2010 census sharing 7.79% of Mainland China's population.

December 2011: Thousands protest new coal plant
On December 20, 2011, tens of thousands of residents in "a key economic area" of China’s southern Guangdong Province gathered in the streets, occupying a highway to demonstrate against an existing coal plant and the development of a new coal plant near Shantou city -- Huaneng Shantou Haimen Power Plant Phase II Unit 4. The residents say existing coal plants in the area are already fouling local air and water, making people sick and damaging their livelihoods. Police moved in with tear gas, according to CNN, who also said the protest was initially censored on Twitter by the Chinese government.

According to Climate Progress: "Each year, protests spring up to counter the construction of dirty coal plants. But this appears to be the biggest yet. Officials now say they will abandon plans to build a new coal plant in the area. Two people were reportedly killed in clashes with police, but the government is denying those reports."

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