Spatially differentiated features of coal resource utilisation efficiency in China

This study analyses the evolution of the spatial patterns of coal utilisation efficiency in Chinese provincial administrative units from 2000 to 2010 basing on the Super-Efficiency Data Envelopment Analysis(DEA) model. China's total factor coal efficiency (TFCE) is generally low, and decreased during this time period. Specially, the TFCE decreases from the eastern coastal areas to the inland areas. The variation coefficient of TFCE in different administrative units increased from 0.437 in 2000 to 0.464 in 2010, indicating that spatial differences had increased. Technological advances have not significantly enhanced Chinese coal resource utilisation efficiency; however, pure efficiency and, more importantly, scale efficiencies have given impetus to the promotion of coal utilisation efficiency. Important external factors impacting these changes include market segmentation, environmental regulation and supervision, and the degree of openness with respect to sharing of knowledge and information.