In the wake of this Harbin Sungari River debacle, there finally has been an article in the China Daily devoted to trying to come to terms with the pollution problem in China, described as 'urgent'.

Yet another article, same day, Xinhua is slapping itself on the back that China's output of coal is set to increase, easing supply concerns of the dirty, highly polluting carbon fuel. Of the 2.1 billion tons of coal, power plants will consume 1.18 billion. TWO BILLION TONS. That's well over a ton of coal per person in China.

Sort of answers a few questions at once, doesn't it? Dying miners, corrupt officials, poisoned environment. But there seems to be no stopping China now, driven to put coal into its veins to get the high of more industrial production, a few million more US dollars in exports. Let's face it - China has a coal addiction.

But I guess after last week, trying to shift to a reliance on gas, petroleum or indeed anything PetroChina produces must seem not like too attractive a solution...

** UPDATE ** Another coal mine disaster in China - 50 dead, over 100 missing.