China monitors Russia's rail project to access world's largest coalfield

China is monitoring Russia's plan to build a new rail link to the Tunguska sedimentary basin, the world's largest coalfield. This project aims to transport coal to export ports near the Chinese border. The China Coal Economic Research Association highlighted the potential of the basin, which has significant coal reserves but is difficult to access. The rail line will connect to Khabarovsk Krai, a key coal exporting region. The railway will also facilitate coal transport from the Elga coal complex, a major source of coking coal for steel production. The Tunguska basin covers 1 million square kilometers and has proven reserves of 6.4 billion tonnes.