The group, which is owned by the central government, reported a coal trade volume of 100.2 million tons in 2005, an increase of 5.83 million tons from the previous year.

The group became China's first energy enterprise whose coal trading volume exceeded 100 million tons, with coal exports amounting to 34 million tons and coke exports, 650,000 tons, the report said.

Last year, the group realized 4 billion yuan in profits, up 67.4percent year-on-year, or 42.7 percentage points higher than the average growth rate of the central enterprises, according to Zhongmei's General Manager Jing Tianliang.

Meanwhile, Zhongmei's coal output came to 72.4 million tons in 2005, or 20.53 million tons more than 2004, an increase of 40 percent. Its coke output rose 142 percent to 3.06 million tons, making it one of China's largest coke produers.

Jing Tianliang told a recent work conference that 2006 is a crucial year for the group to grow into a 100-million-ton coal producer by the year 2007.

The group aims to produce 81 million tons of coal this year, he said. Enditem