J.B. Russell

Reportage: China Coal Boom

China's booming economy is creating an unprecedented demand for energy. China is poor in oil and natural gas, however it is the world's largest producer of coal, the cheapest and dirtiest form of energy. Seven of the world's ten most polluted cities are in China. China's coal powered economic machine is having serious consequences on the region's environment, its public health and is contributing to the worldwide problems of greenhouse gases and global warming.

In a veil of smog the Chinese flag is lowered in front of the Forbidden City. China's dependence on coal for its energy needs and its dilapidated heavy industries are having serious consequences on the environment.Beijing, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Luxury apartment buildings under construction in the new Pudong financial district of Shanghai. China's booming economy is bringing wealth to many and improving living standards, but soaring demand for energy is having serious effects on the environment. 75% of China's energy needs are supplied by coal, the cheapest and dirtiest form of energy.Shanghai, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Large screen advertising monitors reflected in a city bus on Nanjing Donglu, Shanghai's shopping street. China's booming economy is bringing wealth to many and improving living standards, but soaring demand for energy is having serious effects on the environment. 75% of China's energy needs are supplied by coal, the cheapest and dirtiest form of energy.Shanghai, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Nanjing Zilu, Shanghai's luxury shopping street. China's booming economy is bringing wealth to many and improving living standards, but soaring demand for energy is having serious effects on the environment. 75% of China's energy needs are supplied by coal, the cheapest and dirtiest form of energy.Shanghai, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A woman walks through housing for coal miners near a coal mine in a region known as the "sea of coal." Dàtóng has some of the worst air quality in China and is among the ten most polluted cities in the world. 75% of China's energy needs are supplied by coal, the cheapest and dirtiest form of energy. The dependenc on coal is having serious effects on the environment.Dàtóng, Shanxi Province, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Miners at the state run Jinhuagong coal mine prepare to descend into the mine. Over 6000 miners, and as many as 20,000 by some estimates, are killed every year in accidents. 75% of China's growing energy needs come from coal, a soaring demand that puts production before safety.Dàtóng, Shanxi Province, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
A miner at a regional coalmine running the coal extraction conveyor. China's growing energy needs are provided by coal, the cheapest and most polluting form of energy. As a result, seven of the world's ten most polluted cities are in China.Dàtóng, Shanxi Province, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Coal miners extracting coal atop a giant mound of scree. Housing for miners sit at the foot of the talus slope. 75% of China's energy needs are supplied by coal, the cheapest and dirtiest form of energy. Soaring demand for energy is having serious effects on the environment.Dàtóng, Shanxi Province, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Coal carriages being off-loaded at a small, private mine. Coal mining is the the country's most dangerous job. 6000 to 20,000 miners are killed every year in accidents. The demands of China's booming economy put production before safetly.75% of China's growing energy needs is supplied by coal. China is the world's largest producer of coal. Seven of the world's ten most polluted cities are in China.Dàtóng, Shanxi Province, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Miners at a regional coal mine sorting coal. 75% of China's growing energy needs are supplied by coal; the cheapest and most polluting form of energy. As a result, seven of the world's ten most polluted cities are in China.Dàtóng, Shanxi Province, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Large blocks of coal are transported from a mine by a local re-seller. The vast majority of Chinese use coal for domestic heating and cooking fuel.Dàtóng, Shanxi Province, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A worker at the state run Jinhuagong coalmine sorts coal. While large, state run mines are better operated, China's insatiable demand for energy has allowed thousands of independent, unregulated mines to flourish. These mines rarely observe safety and environmental standards.Dàtóng, Shanxi Province, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Housing for coal miners cover the hills surrounding the coal mining region known as the "sea of coal" near Dàtóng. Mining is the country's most dangerous profession. Officially, more than 6000 miners, and as many as 20,000 by some estimates, are killed every year in accidents. China's insatiable demand for energy puts production before safety. Dàtóng, Shanxi Province, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Coal miners drinking between work shifts at the Jinhuagong mine. Mining is the country's most dangerous profession. Officially, more than 6000 miners, and as many as 20,000 by some estimates, are killed every year in accidents.Dàtóng, Shanxi Province, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Coal miners stroll along railroad tracks that transport coal from the mining region known as the "sea of coal." Thousands of unskilled rural poor migrate to China's coal producing regions seeking work. Mining is the country's most dangerous profession. Officially, more than 6000 miners, and as many as 20,000 by some estimates, are killed every year in accidents. China's growing energy needs puts production before safety. Dàtóng, Shanxi Province, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
     
  
Air pollution near the Number One coal fired power plant. 75% of China's growing energy needs are supplied by coal, the cheapest and dirtiest form of energy. China is the world's largest producer of coal and seven of the world's ten most polluted cities are in China.Dàtóng, Shanxi Province, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
Nanjing Donglu, Shanghai's shopping street. China's booming economy is bringing wealth to many and improving living standards, but soaring demand for energy is having serious effects on the environment. 75% of China's energy needs are supplied by coal, the cheapest and dirtiest form of energy.Shanghai, China.Photo © J.B. Russell
   
A shroud of smog envelops Tiananmen Square. China's policy of economic growth at all costs and its dependence on coal for its energy needs is having serious consequences for the environment.Beijing, China.Photo © J.B. Russell