Evolvement and its implications of spatial patterns of inter-provincial coal output and input at national level

Based on the spatial analysis of inter-provincial coal output and input in the last two decades, the paper argues that the spatial patterns of inter-provincial coal transportation have changed greatly since 1985. As the main output producers concentrate northwestward obviously while coal input amount gravitates southeastward, inter-provincial coal transportation will most probably soar in the next decade. Shanxi province always tops the list of output producers, but its power decreases gradually; on the contrary, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and Shaanxi province are strengthening their influences on coal output. The scattered regional coal producers shrink their orbits and focus more on their neighboring provinces. It is also argued that the increase of inter-provincial coal transportation has many social and environmental implications. It may result in great pressure on coal production and traffic sectors, bring many environmental problems and increase local environmental vulnerability in environmental dimension, widen the gap between western coal output producers and the eastern input consumers in social dimension. It concludes that some intensive researches should be done to deal with these consequences.