HELENA – A Chinese company is telling Gov. Brian Schweitzer that it is considering buying coal from Montana.
Representatives of Bejing-based Manyuan Coal told the governor during a meeting Wednesday that it has been discussing the idea with Montana-based coal mines. The coal would be sent on train to the West coast for shipment to China.
Schweitzer says that even though China has a lot of coal, it could use more as it continues to expand. The company told the governor it could eventually develop its own mine in the state since Montana has one of the largest untapped coal reserves in the world.
Schweitzer says he plans a trip to India in late January and will stop in China to further discuss the idea with the company.