As filed with Securities and Exchange Commission on June 26, 2008

 

 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 20-F

 

 

 

¨REGISTRATION STATEMENT PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR (g) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

xANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 20072008

OR

 

¨TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 or 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

OR

 

¨SHELL COMPANY REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

Date of event requiring this shell company report

Commission file number 001-14714

 

 

LOGO[GRAPHIC APPEARS HERE]

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited

(Translation of Registrant’s name into English)

 

 

People’s Republic of China

(Jurisdiction of incorporation or organization)

298 South Fushan Road

Zoucheng, Shandong Province

People’s Republic of China

(Address of principal executive offices)

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act.

 

Title of each class

 

Name of each exchange on which registered

American Depositary Shares New York Stock Exchange
H Shares, par value RMB1.00 each New York Stock Exchange*

*Not for trading in the United States, but only in connection with the listing of the American Depositary Shares.

Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act.

None

(Title of Class)

Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Act.

None

(Title of Class)

 

 

Indicate the number of outstanding shares of each of the issuer’s classes of capital or common stock as of the close of the period covered by the annual report.

2,960,000,000 Domestic Shares, par value RMB1.00 per share

1,958,400,000 H Shares, par value RMB1.00 per share

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.    Yes  x    No  ¨

If this report is an annual or transition report, indicate by check mark if the registrant is not required to file reports pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.    Yes  ¨    No  x

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to file such reports), and (2) has been subject to such filing requirements for the past 90 days.    Yes  x    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has submitted electronically and posted on its corporate Web site, if any, every Interactive Data File required to be submitted and posted pursuant to Rule 405 of Regulation S-T (§232.405 of this chapter) during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter period that the registrant was required to submit and post such files).    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a large accelerated filer, an accelerated filer, or a non-accelerated filer. See definition of “accelerated filer and large accelerated filer” in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act. (Check one):

Large accelerated filer  x                Accelerated filer  ¨                Non-accelerated filer  ¨

Indicate by check mark which basis of accounting the registrant has used to prepare the financial statements included in this filing:

U.S. GAAP  ¨

International Financial Reporting Standards as issued

            by the International Accounting Standards Board  x

Other  ¨

Indicate by check mark which financial statement item the registrant has elected to follow.    Item 17  ¨    Item 18  x

If this is an annual report, indicate by check mark whether the registrant is a shell company (as defined in Rule 12b-2 of the Exchange Act).    Yes  ¨    No  x

(APPLICABLE ONLY TO ISSUERS INVOLVED IN BANKRUPTCY PROCEEDINGS DURING THE PAST FIVE YEARS)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant has filed all documents and reports required to be filed by Sections 12, 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 subsequent to the distribution of securities under a plan confirmed by a court.    Yes  ¨    No  ¨

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

      PAGE NO.

CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

  1

DEFINITIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

  2

EXCHANGE RATES

  3

SPECIAL NOTE ON OUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  3
PART I

ITEM 1.

  

IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

  4

ITEM 2.

  

OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

  4

ITEM 3.

  

KEY INFORMATION

  4

ITEM 4.

  

INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

  1213

ITEM 5.

  

OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

  4244

ITEM 6.

  

DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

  5458

ITEM 7.

  

MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

  6669

ITEM 8.

  

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

  7173

ITEM 9.

  

THE OFFER AND LISTING

  7173

ITEM 10.

  

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

  7476

ITEM 11.

  

QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

  93

ITEM 12.

  

DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

  9594
PART II

ITEM 13.

  

DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

  9594

ITEM 14.

  

MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

  9594

ITEM 15.

  

CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

  95

ITEM 16A.

  

AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

  96

ITEM 16B

  

CODE OF ETHICS

  96

ITEM 16C.

  

PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

  9796

ITEM 16D.

  

EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES

  97

ITEM 16E.

  

PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

  9897
PART III

ITEM 17.

  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  9897

ITEM 18.

  

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  9897

ITEM 19.

  

EXHIBITS

  9897

SIGNATURES

  


CAUTIONARY STATEMENT

This Annual Reportannual report contains forward-looking statements, which do not relate to historical financial information. The words or phrases “will likely result,” “are expected to,” “will continue,” “is anticipated,” “intend,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe” or similar expressions are intended to identify “forward-looking statements”, within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. These statementsamended. The terms “anticipate,” “believe,” “continue,” “could,” “estimate,” “expect,” “intend,” “may,” “plan,” “potential,” “predict,” “project,” “should,” “will” and similar expressions are subjectintended to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from historical results and those presently anticipated or projected. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any suchidentify forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made.statements. These forward-looking statements include, without limitation, statements relating to:

 

our business prospects;

 

future prices and demand for our products and demand for our customers’ products;

future PRC tariff levels and export quotas for coal;

 

sales of our products;

 

the extent and nature of, and potential for, our future development;

 

estimates and recoverability of coal reserves;

 

production forecasts of coal;

 

trends in the coal industry and domestic and international coal market conditions;

 

the development of the methanol industry;

our ability to reduce costs and compete effectively;

 

future expansion plans and capital expenditures;

 

expected production capacity increases;

 

competition;

 

changes in legislation, regulations and policies;

 

estimates of proven and probable coal mine reserves;

future PRC tariff levels and export quotas for coal;

 

our research and development plans; and

 

our dividend policy.

These statements are based on assumptions and analyses made by us in light of our experience and our perception of historical trends, current conditions and expected future developments, as well as other factors we believe are appropriate in particular circumstances. However, whether actual results and developments will meet our expectations and predictions depend on a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from our historical results and expectations. These risks are more fully described in further detail in the section entitled “Item 3. Key Information – Risk Factors”.Factors.”

Consequently, allAll of the forward-looking statements made in this Annual Reportannual report are qualified by this cautionary statement. We cannot assure you that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected effect on us, our business or operations.

We caution you not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date they are made. Unless otherwise indicated, statistical and market trend information, as well as statements relatedwe are required to market position and competitive data, is based on our internal statistics and/do so under U.S. federal securities laws or estimates gathered from our own research and/other applicable laws, we do not intend to update or various publicly available sources.revise any forward-looking statements.

DEFINITIONS AND SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION

As used in this Annual Report,annual report, references to “Yanzhou Coal” and “the Company” refer to Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited, on a stand-alone basis and do not include itsour subsidiaries that have been consolidated into our accounts for the purposes of the consolidated financial statements. Yanzhou Coal is a joint stock limited company incorporated under the laws of the PRC in 1997, with its H Shares, American Depositary Shares and A Shares listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, the New York Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange, respectively.

References to “we”“We”, “our”, “our Company” or “us” referrefers to Yanzhou Coal and its subsidiaries, which have been consolidated into the accounts of Yanzhou Coal for the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, unless the context indicates otherwise.

References to the “Yankuang“Yankuang Group”, “Controlling Shareholder” or “Parent Company” referrefers to Yankuang Group Corporation Limited, a company with limited liability established under the laws of the PRC in 1996, (formerly known as Yanzhou Mining (Group) Corporation Limited). Yankuang Group controlled 52.86% of the Company’s total share capital of as of December 31, 2007. References to any time prior to our incorporation, are to the businesses, assets and liabilitiesdate of the Predecessor (defined below) that were not transferred to us in the restructuring and incorporation of the Company in 1997 and, where the context requires, includes our subsidiaries. References to the “Predecessor” mean the entity that held all our assets and liabilities as well as the assets and liabilities of the Controlling Shareholder prior to the restructuring in 1997.this annual report.

“Yulin Nenghua” refers to Yanzhou Coal Yulin Nenghua Company Limited, a company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the PRC in 2004 and a 97% non-whollywholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Yulin Nenghua is mainly engaged in the construction and operation of a 600,000 tonne methanol project.project and a supporting power plant in Shaanxi Province.

“Yushuwan Coal Mine Company” refers to Shaanxi Yushuwan Coal Mine Company Limited, a joint venture among the Company, Chia Tai Energy & Chemicals Company Limited and Yushen Coal Company Limited, of which we will hold a 41% equity interest. As of the date of this Annual Report,annual report, the establishment of Yushuwan Coal Mine Company was still pending review by the relevant regulatory authorities. Yushuwan Coal Mine Company will engage in the construction and operation of Yushuwan Coal Mine in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province.

“Heze Nenghua” refers to Yanmei Heze Nenghua Company Limited, a company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the PRC in 2004 and a 96.67% non-wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.

“Shanxi Nenghua” refers to Yanzhou Coal Shanxi Nenghua Company Limited, a company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the PRC in 2002 and a wholly-ownedwholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Shanxi Nenghua mainly engaged in the management ofmanages the Company’s investment projects in Shanxi Province.

“Tianchi Energy” refers to Shanxi Heshun Tianchi Energy Company Limited, a company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of the PRC in 1999 and an 81.31% non-wholly owned subsidiary of Shanxi Nenghua. Tianchi Energy is mainly engaged in the operation of Tianchi Coal Mine.

“Tianhao Chemicals” refers to Shanxi Tianhao Chemicals Company Limited, a joint stock company incorporated under the laws of the PRC in 2002 and a 99.85% non-wholly owned subsidiary of Shanxi Nenghua. Tianhao Chemicals is mainly engaged in the construction and operation of a 100,000 tonne methanol project.project and a supporting power plant.

“Yancoal Australia” refers to Yancoal Australia Pty Limited, a company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of Australia in 2004 and a wholly-ownedwholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Yancoal Australia is mainly engaged the management of the Company’s investment projects in Australia.

“Austar Company” refers to Austar Coal Mine Pty Limited, a company with limited liability incorporated under the laws of Australia in 2004 and a wholly-ownedwholly owned subsidiary of Yancoal Australia Pty Limited. Austar Company is mainly engaged in the construction and operation of Austar Coal Mine.

“Hua Ju Energy” refers to Shangdong Hua Ju Energy Company Limited, a joint stock company incorporated under the laws of the PRC in 2002 and a 74% non-wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Hua Ju Energy operates six power plants that generate power utilizing coal gangue and coal slurry, by-products of our coal mining process.

“Railway Assets” referrefers to theour railway assets specifically used for transporting coal by the Company.network that we use to transport coal.

“Shares” herein referrefers collectively to our (i) domestic invested shares held bylisted on the Controlling Shareholder on behalf of the State,Shanghai Stock Exchange, par value RMB1.00 each (the “State Legal Person“Domestic Shares” or “A Shares”), (ii) domestic invested shares other than those held by the Controlling Shareholder, par value RMB1.00 each (the “RMB Ordinary A Shares”), (iii) overseas listed foreign invested shares issued and traded in HK dollars and listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, par value RMB1.00 each (the “H Shares”), and (iv)(iii) American Depositary Shares (the “ADSs”), each of which represented 50 H Shares in 2007. The ADSs are evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”). “Domesticup until the stock split on June 27, 2008 and now represent 10 H Shares.

“Promoter Shares” herein referrefers to the State Legal PersonDomestic Shares and RMB Ordinary A Shares collectively.held by our Controlling Shareholder.

Directors, Supervisors and Executive Officers”Directors” as used herein refer to our directors supervisors and executive officers as discussed in Item 6 herein.

“Articles of Association” referrefers to our articlesArticles of association,Association, as amended from time to time.

“Hong Kong Stock Exchange” meansrefers to The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

As used herein, “Eastern China” includesrefers collectively to Shandong Province, Jiangsu Province, Anhui Province, Zhejiang Province, Fujian Province, Jiangxi Province and Shanghai municipality.

As used herein, “Annual Report”municipality and “Southern China” refers to the annual report of Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited, prepared on Form 20-F for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2007.Guangdong Province and Hunan Province and Guangxi autonomous region.

As used herein, “PRC“PRC Government” or “Government” or “State” means the central government of the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC” or “China”), including all political subdivisions (including provincial, municipal and other regional or local governmental entities) and instrumentalities thereof.

“Tonne” means metric tonne, equalwhich is equivalent to 1,000 kilograms or approximately 2,205 pounds.

“Ex-mine” refers to an arrangement for the sale of coal where the seller delivers coal at the coal mine and the buyer arrangesis responsible for arranging and bearing the transportation for the deliveryrelated costs and expenses of transporting the coal from the mine and bears the related costs or expenses.mine.

Certain mining terms used hereinin this annual report are defined in the “Glossary of Mining Terms”, which iswas included as Appendix B to our registration statement on Form F-l that waswe filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. A copy of the “Glossary of Mining Terms” may be obtained upon written request to the Company.

Our financial statements are denominated in Renminbi or RMB, the lawful currency of the PRC. Except as otherwise stated, all monetary amounts in this Annual Report are presented in RMB.

Our audited financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).

References to the “Financial Statements” herein refer to the financial statements in Item 18 of this Annual Report.

EXCHANGE RATES

Unless otherwise specified, references in this Annual Reportannual report to “U.S. dollars” or “US$” are to United States dollars, references to “HK dollars” or “HK$” are to Hong Kong dollars, references to “AUD” are to Australian dollars and references to “RMB” are to Renminbi.Renminbi, the lawful currency of the PRC. Our financial statements are denominated in RMB and, except as otherwise stated, all monetary amounts in this annual report are presented in RMB.

Solely for your convenience, certain items in this Annual Reportannual report contain translations of Renminbi amounts into U.S. dollars. All translations of amounts from Renminbi to U.S. dollars, which have been made except as otherwise stated, at the noon buying rate in New York City for cable transfers in foreign currencies as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York (the “Noon Buying Rate”) on December 31, 20072008 of US$1.00 = RMB7.2946.RMB6.8225. No representation is made that the Renminbi amounts or any other currency, could have been or could be converted into U.S. dollars at that rate, or at all.

SPECIAL NOTE ON OUR FINANCIAL INFORMATION

We make an explicit and unreserved statement of compliance with IFRSInternational Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) with respect to our consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 2007 and 2008 and for the three years ended December 31, 2006 and 20072008 included in this Annual Report.annual report. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu, our independent registered public accounting firms for fiscal year 2006 and fiscal year 2007, and Grant Thornton, our independent registered public accounting firm hasfor fiscal year 2008, respectively, have issued an auditor’s report on our financial statements prepared in accordance with IFRS, as issued by the IASB.International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”).

In accordance with rule amendments adopted by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, which became effective on March 4, 2008, we are not required to provide a reconciliation to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, or U.S. GAAP.

PART I

 

ITEM 1.IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 2.OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 3.KEY INFORMATION

A. Selected Financial Data

A.Selected Financial Data

Historical Financial InformationData

The following selected consolidated financial information presents data was derived from our balance sheet, income statement and cash flow statement as of and for the years ended December 31, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007. The following2008. You should read this financial information should be read in conjunctiondata together with the audited financial statements included elsewhere in this Annual Report.annual report. Unless otherwise indicated, the financial statements are prepared and presented in accordance with IFRS, as issued by the IASB.

 

  As of and for the Year Ended December 31,   As of and for the Year Ended December 31, 
  2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2007   2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2008 
  RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$   RMB RMB RMB RMB RMB US$ 
  (Amounts in millions except Share, per Share, and per ADS data)   (in millions except per Share and per ADS data) 

INCOME STATEMENT DATA

              

Total revenue

  8,541.2  11,977.8  12,447.0  12,944.0  15,110.5  2,017.5   11,977.8  12,447.0  12,944.0  15,110.5  24,903.1  3,650.1 

Gross sales of coal

  8,386.6  11,757.1  12,283.6  12,783.6  14,906.7  2,043.5   11,757.1  12,283.6  12,783.6  14,906.7  24,557.5  3,599.5 

Railway transportation service income

  154.6  220.8  163.4  160.4  203.7  27.9   220.8  163.4  160.4  203.7  247.2  36.2 

Gross sales of electricity power

  —    —    —    —    59.8  8.8 

Gross sales of methanol

  —    —    —    —    38.6  5.7 

Transportation costs of coal

  (1,592.3) (1,402.7) (930.1) (936.6) (549.8) (75.4)  (1,402.7) (930.1) (936.6) (549.8) (508.7) (74.6)

Cost of sales and service provided

  (3,755.0) (4,551.7) (5,288.6) (6,190.1) (7,331.9) (1,005.1)  (4,551.7) (5,288.6) (6,190.1) (7,331.9) (11,816.8) (1,732.0)

Cost of electricity power

  —    —    —    —    (88.3) (12.9)

Cost of methanol

  —    —    —    —    (37.8) (5.5)
                   

Gross profit

  3,193.9  6,023.4  6,228.3  5,817.3  7,228.7  991.0   6,023.4  6,228.3  5,817.3  7,228.7  12,451.5  1,825.1 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  (1,264.8) (1,479.9) (1,918.8) (2,230.1) (2,854.7) (391.3)  (1,479.9) (1,918.8) (2,230.1) (2,854.7) (3,832.0) (561.7)

Share of loss of an associate

  —    —    —    —    2.4  0.3   —    —    —    (2.4) (67.4) (9.9)

Other income

  105.8  165.7  135.0  165.8  198.9  27.3   165.7  135.0  165.8  198.9  351.5  51.5 

Interest expense

  (60.0) (35.9) (24.6) (26.3) (27.2) (3.7)  (35.9) (24.6) (26.3) (27.2) (38.4) (5.6)
                                      

Profit before income taxes

  1,974.9  4,673.3  4,420.0  3,726.6  4,543.3  622.8   4,673.3  4,420.0  3,726.6  4,543.3  8,865.2  1,299.4 

Income taxes

  (587.7) (1,518.8) (1,538.0) (1,354.7) (1,315.5) (180.3)  (1,518.8) (1,538.0) (1,354.7) (1,315.5) (2,385.6) (349.7)

Profit for the year

  1,387.2  3,154.6  2,881.9  2,372.0  3,227.8  442.5   3,154.6  2,881.9  2,372.0  3,227.8  6,479.6  949.8 
                                      

Profit attributable to our equity holders

  1,386.7  3,154.3  2,881.5  2,373.0  3,230.5  442.9   3,154.3  2,881.5  2,373.0  3,230.5  6,448.9  945.2 

Earnings per Share

  0.30  0.66  0.59  0.48  0.66  0.09   0.66  0.59  0.48  0.66  1.32  0.19 

Earnings per ADS

  15.10  33.25  29.29  24.12  32.84  4.50 

Earnings per ADS(1)

  6.65  5.86  4.82  6.56  13.19  1.93 

Operating income per Share before income tax

  0.44  0.99  0.90  0.76  0.92  0.13   0.99  0.90  0.76  0.92  1.80  0.26 

Profit from continuing operation per ADS before income tax

  22.16  49.64  45.18  37.88  46.19  6.33 

Profit from continuing operation per ADS before income tax(1)

  9.93  9.04  7.58  9.24  18.02  2.64 

CASH FLOW DATA

       

Net cash provided by operating activities

  4,418.4  3,939.3  3,767.2  4,558.6  7,095.5  1040.0 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (2,300.8) (2,262.5) (3,625.5) (3,790.9) (2,091.5) (306.6)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

  1,075.4  (1,009.3) (1,291.5) (1,018.7) (921.7) (135.1)

BALANCE SHEET DATA

       

Current assets

  8,319.6  10,951.1  9,871.9  9,908.2  14,994.4  2,197.8 

Current liabilities

  2,545.1  3,429.0  3,828.0  4,099.5  5,297.0  776.4 

Net current assets

  5,774.5  7,522.1  6,043.9  5,808.7  9,697.4  1,421.4 

Property, plant and equipment, net

  8,537.2  9,318.5  12,139.9  13,524.6  14,149.4  2,073.9 

Total assets

  18,336.7  21,254.4  23,458.7  26,187.4  32,338.6  4,740.0 

Long-term bank borrowing

  200.0  —    330.0  258.0  176.0  25.8 

Equity attributable to our equity holders

  15,523.8  17,618.6  18,931.8  21,417.5  26,755.1  3,921.6 

DIVIDEND PER SHARE

       

A and H Shares

  0.16  0.26  0.22  0.20  0.17  0.02 

ADS(1)

  1.60  2.60  2.20  2.00  1.70  0.25 

(1)Effective in June 2008, the Company’s ADS ratio was changed from one ADS representing 50 H Shares to one ADS representing 10 H Shares. The comparative figures of all periods presented have been adjusted accordingly.

   As of and for the Year Ended December 31, 
   2003  2004  2005  2006  2007  2007 
   RMB  RMB  RMB  RMB  RMB  US$ 
   (Amounts in millions except Share, per Share, and per ADS data) 

CASH FLOW DATA

       

Net cash provided by operating activities

  2,701.2  4,418.4  3,939.3  3,767.2  4,558.6  624.9 

Depreciation

  920.5  958.7  952.1  1,062.0  1,237.1  169.6 

Net cash used in investing activities

  (1,310.3) (2,300.8) (2,262.5) (3,625.5) (3,790.9) (519.7)

Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities

  (911.4) 1,075.4  (1,009.3) (1,291.5) (1,018.7) (139.7)

BALANCE SHEET DATA

       

Total current assets

  4,430.5  8,319.6  10,951.1  9,871.9  9,908.2  1,358.3 

Total current liabilities

  2,372.0  2,545.1  3,429.0  3,828.0  4,099.5  562.0 

Net current assets

  2,058.5  5,774.5  7,522.1  6,043.9  5,808.7  796.3 

Property, plant and equipment, net

  8,616.4  8,537.2  9,318.5  12,139.9  13,524.6  1,854.1 

Total assets

  13,909.9  18,336.7  21,254.4  23,458.7  26,187.4  3,590.0 

Total long-term bank borrowing

  400.0  200.0  —    330.0  258.0  37.5 

Equity attributable to our equity holders

  11,083.2  15,523.8  17,618.6  18,931.8  21,417.5  2,936.1 

Number of Shares Outstanding

   As of December 31,
   2004  2005  2006  2007  2008

A Shares

  1,850,000,000  2,960,000,000  2,960,000,000  2,960,000,000  2,960,000,000

H Shares

  1,224,000,000  1,958,400,000  1,958,400,000  1,958,400,000  1,958,400,000

ADS(1)

  565,894  1,845,974  5,461,179  3,338,368  18,919,105

(1)Effective in June 2008, the Company’s ADS ratio was changed from one ADS representing 50 H Shares to one ADS representing 10 H Shares.

Exchange Rate Information

The following table sets forth, for the periods indicated, the noon buying rates for U.S. dollars in New York for cable transfers payable in Renminbi as certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York expressed in Renminbi per U.S. dollar:

 

  Noon Buying Rate  Noon Buying Rate

Period

  Period End  Average(1)  High  Low  Period End  Average(1)  High  Low
  (expressed in RMB per US$)  (expressed in RMB per US$)

2003

  8.2767  8.2771  8.2800  8.2765

2004

  8.2765  8.2768  8.2774  8.2764  8.2765  8.2768  8.2774  8.2764

2005

  8.0702  8.1826  8.2765  8.0702  8.0702  8.1826  8.2765  8.0702

2006

  7.8041  7.9723  8.0702  7.8041  7.8041  7.9723  8.0702  7.8041

2007

  7.2946  7.5806  7.8127  7.2946  7.2946  7.5806  7.8127  7.2946

2008

  6.8225  6.9193  7.2946  6.7800

December

  7.2946  7.3682  7.4120  7.2946  6.8225  6.8539  6.8842  6.8225

2008

        

2009

        

January

  7.1818  7.2405  7.2946  7.1818  6.8392  6.8360  6.8403  6.8225

February

  7.1115  7.1644  7.1973  7.1100  6.8395  6.8363  6.8470  6.8241

March

  7.0120  7.0722  7.1110  7.0105  6.8329  6.8360  6.8438  6.8240

April

  6.9870  6.9997  7.0185  6.9840  6.8180  6.8306  6.8361  6.8180

May

  6.9400  6.9725  7.0000  6.9377  6.8278  6.8235  6.8326  6.8176

June (through June 20, 2008)

  6.8796  6.9129  6.9633  6.8770

June (through June 19, 2009)

  6.8360  6.8337  6.8371  6.8264

 

(1)

Determined by averaging the rates on the last business day of each month during the respective period, except for monthly averages, which are determined by averaging the rates on each business day of the month.

On June 20, 200819, 2009, the noon buying rate for Renminbi was US$1.00 = RMB6.8796.RMB6.8360.

B. Capitalization and Indebtedness

B.Capitalization and Indebtedness

Not applicable.

C. Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

C.Reasons for the Offer and Use of Proceeds

Not applicable.

applicable

D. Risk Factors

D.Risk Factors

Our business and results of operations are dependentdepend on the historically cyclicalvolatile domestic and international coal markets.

As substantially all of our revenue is derived from the sales of coal, our business and operating results are dependentdepend on domestic and international supply and demand for coal. The domestic and international coal markets are cyclical and experiencehave historically experienced pricing volatility, in supply and demand. The coal markets are influenced by a number ofwhich reflect, among other factors, beyond our control, including, but not limited to, the conditions of the PRC and global economy and demand fluctuations in key industries that have high demand for coal. Fluctuationscoal consumption. Difficult economic conditions have resulted in supply of and demand for coal affectlower coal prices, which in turn affect our operational and financial performance. The average selling price of our coal products was RMB349.5, RMB341.8, RMB409.0 and RMB409.0RMB640.2 per tonne in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively. Our products have historically experienced substantial price fluctuations, and we believe that we will continue to experience volatilitySince reaching record high levels in pricing. In addition, as2008, domestic coal prices have reached record-high levels infallen due to weakening demand as a result of the global economic downturn. We expect our 2009 average selling prices for coal to be lower than our 2008 weaverages and cannot assure you that we will continue to sell ourreach the same level of profitability as in 2008.

The domestic and international coal as profitably as at present.

markets are affected by supply and demand. The demand for coal is primarily affected by the global economic developmenteconomy and coal demand bythe performance of power generation, chemical, metallurgy and construction materials industries. In addition, the availability and prices of alternative sources of energy to coal, such as natural gas, oil, hydropower and nuclear power as well as international shipping costs also affect demand for coal. The supply of coal, on the other hand, is primarily affected by the geographical location of coal reserves, the transportation capacity of coal transportation railways, the volume of domestic and international coal supplies and the type, quality and price of competitors’ coal. Developments in the international coal market may adversely affect our export sales and future operational results. A significant increase in global coal supply or reduction in coal demand for our coal by foreign or domestic electricity generation or metallurgy industries may have an adverse effect on coal prices, which in turn, may reduce our profitability and adversely affect our business and results of operations.

Our business and profitability are affected by global economic conditions.

The current global financial crisis and economic downturn have adversely affected economies and businesses around the world, including in China. Due to the global economical downturn and a decrease in consumer demand, the economic situation in China has been quite severe since the second half of 2008. This change in the macro-economic conditions has and is expected to continue to have an adverse impact on our business and operations. Coal prices and margins are likely to remain lower than in previous year due to reduced demand. We have experienced pricing pressure on our coal products, which has an adverse effect on our profitability. These factors may also lead to intensified competition for market share and available margin. The financial and economic situation may have a negative impact on third parties suppliers and customers. Any of these factors may affect our results of operations, financial condition and cash flow.

Our business is dependent on our major customers.

Prior toSince 2004, Shandong Power and Fuel Company was our largest customer. In 2005, 2006 and 2007, Huadian Power International Corporation Limited (“Huadian International”) washas been our largest customer. We supplied 5.6 million, 4.9 million, 5.4 million and 5.48.8 million tonnes of coal to Huadian International in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively, which represented 13.7%14.2%, 11.5%15.5% and 12.2%23.3% of our net sales of coalvolume in the same periods, respectively. Substantially all of Huadian International’s coal purchases were supplied to Zouxian Electric Power Plant (“Zouxian Power Plant”). The portion of our coal sales, conducted through Huadian International, to Zouxian Power Plant accounted for 13.4%11.3%, 11.3%12.1% and 12.1%12.9% of our net sales of coal in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively.

Zouxian Power Plant used approximately 8.611.8 million tonnes of coal in 2007.2008. We estimate that we supplied approximately 83.6%92.9%, 92.9%60.8% and 60.8%57.3% of Zouxian Power Plant’s annual coal requirement in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively. Our sales volume and net sales of coal generated from Zouxian Power Plant increased from 2006 to 2007. However, Zouxian Power Plant underwent a capacity expansion in the fourth quarter of 2006 and therefore, significantly increased its coal demand in 2007. As a result, the coal that we supplied decreased as a percentage of Zouxian Power Plant’s total coal demand in 2007. We believe we will remain the principal coal supplier to Zouxian Power Plant because (i) our geographic proximity to Zouxian Power Plant, (ii) our railway network is the only network with direct access to Zouxian Power Plant and (iii) Zouxian Power Plant’s boilers have been custom designed to use the type of coal that we produce. Because purchases by Zouxian Power Plant compose a large portion of our revenue, any adverse developments at Zouxian Power Plant could adversely affect our results of operations.

Our business is dependent on short-term sales contracts and letters of intent.

Approximately 87.0%87.3%, 87.3%86.9% and 86.9%87.5% of our sales in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively, were derived from sales contracts or letters of intent. These sales contracts and letters of intent generally specify the quantity and delivery schedule of purchases for a term generally not exceeding one year. Coal prices under the letters of intent are generally determined subsequently at the time of sale.sale to reflect prevailing market prices. A decline in coal prices at the time of actual sale would have an immediate and adverse impact on our results of operations. An omission of a material term may make a letter of intent unenforceable. Any changes in regulations, cost or availability of labor, raw materials or shipping and foreign exchange rates during the period between the formation and performance of these letters of intent may affect our ability to perform the contract.

Historically, we and our customers have carried out a significant majority of the transactions contemplated under the letters of intent we enter into. However, a sudden and significant increase in the proportion of unperformed letters of intents or unrealized sales could have a material adverse impact on our results of operations. Furthermore, asany changes in regulations, cost or availability of labor, raw materials or shipping and foreign exchange rates during the priceperiod between the formation and performance of coal sold pursuant to suchthese letters of intent is generally determined atmay affect our ability to perform a contract or the time of sale, any significant downturn in the market price of coal could have an immediate and adverse impact on our results of operations.contract’s profitability.

Our products may be subject to governmental price control measures, which may adversely affect our profitability.

The PRC Government has implemented a series of measures to overhaul historical mechanisms to control the purchaseprice and pricing of coalsupply controls with the aim to encourage market practices. As a result, the domestic coal industry has become increasingly market-driven since 2002.

The PRC Government continues to indirectly influence coal prices through the regulation of the closely-related power generation industry, primarily through the allocation of national railway capacities and the announcement of coal pricing policies that are intended to align the use of coal resources with national production policies. Prior to 2006,In 2008, the PRC Government continued its efforts to implement temporary measuresencourage market-based negotiations and to prevent and control significant fluctuations inbring thermal coal prices in line with market prices. AsThe National Development and Reform Commission (“NDRC”) issued a result, thermalnotice in December 2008 reaffirming that coal contract prices for certainshould continue to be set by market pricing mechanisms and be determined based on the negotiations of suppliers and consumers that reflect supply and demand, resource scarcity and the external costs of coal production. Despite the increasing market-orientation of the PRC coal market, our major consumers were lower thanoperations continue to be subject to price-control risks. The PRC Government has historically intervened in the market when market prices during the periods these price controls were in effect. We cannot assure you that developments in governmental regulations, policies and measures will not have an adverse affect on our business and profitability.fluctuate excessively to regulate supply.

To ensure the uninterrupted operation ofpower generation at power plants during the peak season for electricity demand, the NDRC imposed price caps on coal prices twice in 2008,the summer of 2008. Similarly the provincial governments of Shandong and Shaanxi have implemented temporary measures to control the supply of thermal coal. Thecoal such as the enforcement of coal supply contracts, mandatory increases in coal supply and price moratoriums.

Even though the above temporary measures promulgated by Shandong government require (i)had all existing thermal coal contracts between coal enterprises and power plants to be strictly enforced; (ii) coal producers in Shandong Province to increase their collective supply of thermal coal to power plants in Shandong Province on a monthly basis by 2.56 million tonnes in July, August and September of 2008; and (iii) the coal provided pursuant to these measures to be offered at a price that is RMB10 lower than prevailing coal prices in June 2008. The government of Shaanxi has placed a price moratorium on thermal coal until September 15, 2008. In eachbeen abolished as of the three months during which these measures will be effective,December 31, 2008, we estimate that we will provide an additional 1.5 million tonnes of coal to power plants in Shandong Province. We cannot assure you that relevantPRC government agencies will not impose additional price restrictions,intervene in the domestic coal market in the future, which may have a negative impact on our operations, pricing and profitability.

Our product delivery reliesWe rely on the PRC’s railway transportation system.system to deliver our products.

We rely on the PRC national railway system and our railway network to delivery coal to our customers. Approximately 54.4%50.2%, 50.2%37.3% and 37.3%32.9% of our total net sales of coal in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively, were derived from sales of coal that were transported on the PRC national railway system (excluding coal soldsales to Zouxian Power Plant, which waswere transported entirelyexclusively on our own railway network). The limited transportation capacity of the national railway system is not sufficient to meet domestic coal transportation requirements, and railway regulators allocate use of the national railway system. Ourrequirements. Even though, our domestic customers are mainly located in Eastern China, where the railway system is relatively more advanced than other parts of the PRC.PRC, our delivery can potentially be affected. In addition to railway systems, we use major coal shipping ports along the eastern coast of China to ship coal to our customers located in the coastal region of China and overseas. We cannot assure you that we will continue to secure sufficient railway and port capacity to transportdeliver our coal or that we will not experience any material delays in transporting our productsdeliveries or substantial increases in transportation costs as a result of insufficient rail capacity.

The coal reserve data in this Annual Reportannual report are only estimates.

TheOur coal reserve data provided by us are only estimates, which may differ materially from the actual reserves. Our reserve estimates may change substantially if new information subsequently

becomes available. There are inherent uncertainties in estimating reserves, which require the consideration of a number of factors, assumptions and variables, which may be beyond our control and cannot be ascertained despite due investigation. Our actual results of operations may differ materially from our long-term business and operational plans, which are based on our coal reserve estimates. We cannot assure you that we will not adjust our coal reserve estimates downward in the future, and in such event, our resultsproduction and the useful life of operationsour mines may be materially and adversely affected.

Competition in the PRC and the international coal industry is intensifying, and we may not be able to continue to compete effectively.

We face competition in all aspects of our business, including pricing, production capacity, coal quality and specifications, transportation capacity, cost structure and brand recognition. Our coal business competes in the domestic and international markets with other large domestic and international coal producers. Ongoing consolidation in the PRC coal industry has increased the level of competition in our industry. Our overseas competitors may have stronger financial, marketing, distribution and other resources than we do and have brand names with wider recognition in the domestic and international markets.

We may not be able to remain as competitive if changes or developments in the market weaken our existing competitive advantages. The quality of our coal products positions us favorable against our competitors. However, we cannot assure you that we will continue to compete favorably due to quality improvements by our competitors.

competitors will not erode this advantage. We also cannot assure you that continual improvements in China’s transportation infrastructure, particularly the development of the PRCnational railway transportation network, will not diminish our geographic advantage of being located in Eastern China, the area of PRC withwhere coal demand is the strongest coal demand.in China. We believe that we have competed favorably on transportation capabilitycapacity and costs because ourdelivery costs. Our principal competitors are located mainlypredominately in Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, where there are occasional rail capacity shortages and significant costs that have to be incurred to transport coal from these regions to Eastern China. However, improvements in the PRC national rail network will reduce our competitive advantage in transportation. For example, the PRC Government is planninghas and plans to continue to construct additional railways to transport coal from northern and northwestern China to Eastern China. Accordingly, theThe completion of these railway projects may increase the supply of coal availablethat can be delivered to customers in Eastern China, which may have a material adverse impact on our results of operations.

Our operations may be affected by uncertain mining conditions.

As with all underground mining operations, our operations are affected by certain risks inherent in mining, such as a deterioration in the quality or variations in the thickness of faults and/or coal seams, pressure in mine openings, mine water discharge, weather, flooding and other natural disasters. Additionally, we are exposed to operational risks associated with industrial or engineering activities, such as unexpected maintenance problems or equipment failures. Although we conduct geological investigations on mining conditions and adapt our mining plans to address the mining conditions of each mine, there can be no assurance that the occurrence of any adverse mining conditions would not endanger our workforce, increase our production costs, reduce our coal output or temporarily suspend our operations.

Underground mining is also subject to certain risks such as fires and explosions from methane gas or coal dust, roof collapses and ground falls. We can not assure you that the occurrence of such events or conditions would not have a material adverse impact on our business and results of operations.

Our results of operations depend on our ability to acquire or develop new coal mines or coal reserves.

The recoverable coal reserves in our existing mines decline as we produce coal. As our ability to significantly increase our production capacity at existing mines is limited, our ability to increase our coal production will depend on increasing the production of our recently developed coal reserves acquisitions ofand acquiring new mines, orand to a lesser extent, the expansion ofexpanding our existing coal mines.

We acquired Jining III Coal Mine and Southland Colliery in 2001 and 2004, respectively. In 2005, we acquired from our Controlling Shareholder 95.67% of the equity interest in Heze Nenghua, followed by the acquisitiongrant of the mining rights of Zhaolou Coal Mine through Heze Nenghua in May 2008. This acquisition was approved by our shareholders and the relevant government authorities. Zhaolou Coal Mine is expected to commence preliminary operationscommenced production in the fourth quarter of 2008.March 2009. In February 2007,

our Company acquired 100% of theincreased our equity interest ofin Shanxi Nenghua whichfrom 98% to 100%, by acquiring the 2% equity interest that was previously held by our Controlling Shareholder and Lunan Fertilizer Plant.Plant of Yankuang Group. Shanxi Nenghua owns Tianchi Coal Mine, which is owned by Shanxi Nenghua, commenced operations in November 2006. We are also in the process of establishing a joint venturean associate company for a coal mining project in Yushuwan, Shaanxi Province.

The acquisition of new mines by PRC coal companies, either within China or overseas, and the procurement of related licenses and permits are subject to the PRC Government approval. Delays in securing or failure to secure relevant PRC Government approvals, licenses or permits, as well as any adverse change in government policies may hinder our expansion plans, which may materially and adversely affect our profitability and growth prospects. In connection with overseas acquisitions and expansion, we may encounter challenges due to our unfamiliarity with local laws and regulations, suffer foreign exchange losses on overseas investments or face political or regulatory obstacles to acquisitions. We cannot assure you that our overseas expansion or investments will be successful.

We cannot assure you that we will be able to continue to identify suitable acquisition targets or acquire these targets on competitive terms.terms and in a timely manner. We may not be able to successfully develop new coal mines or expand our existing ones in accordance with our development plans or at all. Failure to timely or successfully acquire suitable targets on competitive terms, or successfully complete the development ofdevelop new coal mines or to expand our existing coal mines could have an adverse effect on our results of operations and financial condition.

The acquisition of new mines by PRC coal companies and related licenses and permits, either within China or overseas, is subject to the approval of the PRC Government. Delays in securing or failure to secure the relevant PRC Government approvals, licenses or permits as well as any adverse change in government policies may impair our expansion plans, which may materially and adversely affect our profitabilitycompetitiveness and growth prospects.

In connectionOur operations may be affected by uncertain mining conditions.

As with all underground mining operations, our overseas expansion,operations are affected by certain risks inherent in mining, such as rock and roof falls, deterioration in the quality or variations in the thickness of faults and coal seams, methane gas, water discharge, spontaneous combustion, gaseous ignition and other mining hazards. Additionally, we could encounter unforeseenare exposed to operational risks associated with industrial or engineering activities, such as maintenance problems dueor equipment failures. Although we conduct geological investigations on mining conditions and adapt our mining plans to address the mining conditions at each mine, we cannot assurance you that adverse mining conditions would not endanger our unfamiliarity with local lawsworkforce, increase our production costs, reduce our coal output or temporarily suspend our operations.

Underground mining is also subject to certain risks such as fires and regulationsexplosions from methane gas or suffer foreign exchange losses in relations to overseas investments.coal dust, roof collapses and ground falls. We cannot assure you that the occurrence of such events or conditions would not have a material adverse impact on our overseas expansion or investments will be successful.business and results of operations.

We may suffer losses resulting from industry-related accidents and lack of insurance to cover these accidents.

Our coal mines and operating facilities may be damaged by water, gas, fire or cave-ins due to unstable geological structures. As a result, we, likeLike other coal mining companies, we have experienced accidents that have resulted in property damage and personal injuries. Although we have implemented safety measures for our production facilities and provide on-the-joboccupational safety training for our employees, and in accordance with relevant laws, set aside approximately 2.0% of each employee’s total remuneration for personal injury insurance, there can be no assurance that industry-related accidents will not occur in the future.occur. We regularly contribute to our work injury insurance fund that compensates employees who sustain work injuries.

WeConsistent with what we believe to be customary practice among PRC enterprises, we do not currently maintain fire, casualty or other property insurance for our properties, equipment or inventories, other than for our vehicles. In addition, we do not maintain any business interruption insurance or any third party liability insurance to cover claims in respect of personal injury, property or environmental damage arising from accidents on our properties, other than third party liability insurance with respect to vehicles. Any uninsured losses and liabilities incurred by us could have a material adverse effect on our financial condition and results of operations.

We may be required to allocate additional funds for land subsidence.

Underground mining may cause the land above underground mining sites to subside. Depending onBefore the circumstances and conditionscommencement of each site,mining, we may relocate inhabitants above certain undergroundin areas surrounding our mining sites, prior to the commencement of mining, or we may compensate the inhabitants for any property losses or damages caused by land subsidence after the underground sites have been mined. We may also be requiredmining. PRC regulations require us to set aside provisions forto cover the costs associated with land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation orand environmental protection to mitigate the effects of our mining activities.protection. An estimate of these costs is recorded in the period in which the obligation is identified andestimated provision is deducted as an expense in our income statement in proportion tobased on the amount of coal actually extracted. Payment

In 2008, RMB2,938.4 million of our provision for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental protection was deducted as an expense. We significantly increased our provision for these costs in 2008 mainly because government policy changes increased the basis of calculating compensation and reclamation costs to reflect rising income levels and costs. Government policy changes also enlarged the area surrounding mining sites that is funded by working capital and amountedsubject to RMB593.5 million in 2007.reclamation. The provision for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental protection costs is determined by our directors based on past occurrences of land subsidence. However, the provision is only an estimate and may be adjusted to reflect the actual effects of our mining activities on the land above our mining sites. Therefore, there can be no assurance that such estimates are accurate or that our land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental protection costs will not substantially increase in the future or that the PRC Government will not impose new fees in respect of land subsidence, the occurrence of any of which could have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.

Our business operations may be adversely affected by present or future environmental regulations.

As a PRC coal producer, we are subject to significant, extensive and increasingly stringent environmental protection laws and regulations in China.regulations. These laws and regulations:

 

impose fees for the discharge of waste substances;

 

require provisions for reclamation and rehabilitation;

 

impose fines for serious environmental offenses; and

 

authorize the PRC Government to close any facility that it determines has failed to comply with environmental regulations and suspend any coal operations that cause excessive environmental damage.

Our coal mining operations produce waste water, gas emissionemissions and solid waste materials. The PRC Government has tightened enforcement of applicable laws and regulations and adopted more stringent environmental standards. Similarly, our Australian operations are subject to Australia’s stringent environmental regulations. Our budgeted amounts of capital expenditureamount for environmental regulatory compliance may not be sufficient, and we may need to allocate additional funds for this purpose. If we fail to comply with current or future environmental laws and regulations, we may be required to pay penalties or fines or take corrective actions, any of which may have a material adverse effect on our business operations and financial condition.

In addition, China is a signatory to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1997 Kyoto Protocol, which are intended to limit greenhouse gas emissions. On March 14, 2006, the PRC Government released the outline of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development, thatwhich sets goals to decrease the amount of energy consumed per unit of GDP by 20 percent and to reduce the emission of certain major pollutants by 10ten percent. If efforts to reduce energy consumption and control greenhouse gas emissionemissions reduce coal consumption, our revenue would decrease and our business would be adversely affected.

We face pricing volatility and intense competition in our methanol operations.

We have invested in and commenced the limited production of coal-based methanol at Tianhao Chemicals for domestic sale in September 2008, as well as trial production at Yulin Nenghua in December 2008. The methanol business is a competitive commodity industry with dynamic supply and demand fundamentals. After a number of years of high demand growth that resulted in supply shortage in 2007, the PRC methanol market slowed sharply towards the second half of 2008 and is currently negatively affected by overcapacity and weak demand from major downstream markets. We expect the PRC methanol market to experience oversupply for the next few years. Methanol prices have historically been, and are expected to continue to be, characterized by significant cyclicality. As of May 2009, PRC benchmark methanol prices fell to around RMB1,970 per tonne from record highs of RMB4,170 per tonne in 2008, representing a 52.8% decrease. We expect our methanol prices to be affected by a number of factors, including, but not limited to:

global and domestic methanol production;

global energy prices;

methanol plant utilization rates, capacity additions and shut downs;

global economic conditions;

our cost structure and product quality;

compliance costs and environmental risks; and

foreign competition from low cost methanol producers which may have greater resources.

As of the end of 2008, we had a total methanol production capacity of 700,000 tonnes. As with developing any new business, we may not progress as planned and may face unexpected obstacles in addition to the anticipated challenges presented by inexperience and market entry barriers. For example, due to the closure of Tianhao Chemicals’ sole supplier of coke oven waste gas, which was delivered through a transmission pipeline that connects our methanol plant with the supplier’s, we temporarily suspended methanol production at Tianhao Chemicals and have not resumed operations as of the date of this annual report. In 2008, our operations at Tianhao Chemicals sustained at a lost of RMB59.1 million compared with our profit of RMB 6,479.6 million for the year. We cannot assure you if Yulin Nenghua will continue to procure raw materials at acceptable terms or if Tianhao Chemicals’ operations will be affected or even suspended because of a raw material shortage.

If our projections for the domestic methanol market prove incorrect or if we are unable to otherwise compete effectively, we may not recover the capital and resources we have already invested in our methanol operations. In that event, our business and profitability will be adversely affected.

Our electric power business is heavily regulated, which may affect our results of operations.

We generated RMB59.8 million of revenue from electric power sales, which represented a small percentage of our total revenue in 2008. The significant majority of electricity that we produce is intended for our own use and only a small portion will be sold. To the extent that we do sell electricity, government management of grid power prices, the price at which power grid operators purchase electricity from power plants, may reduce our profitability and adversely affect our results of operations.

The operation of coal-fired power plants is subject to increasingly stringent emission standards of the PRC government, which will set new standards for air pollutant emission in 2010 under the Emission Standard of Air Pollutants for Thermal Power Plants. As a result, our compliance costs will likely increase. As a result of the foregoing, we may experience delays or failure to realize the expected benefits from our acquisition and not realize a full return on our investment.

PRC quotas for coal exports may adversely affect the level of our coal export sales.

Our export sales (not including the sales by Yancoal Australia) accounted for 25.8%19.5%, 19.5%4.3% and 4.3%0.8% of our net sales of coal in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively. In JanuarySince 2004, the PRC Government promulgated a regulation entitled “Measures for the Administration of Quotas for Coal Export,” which became effective on July 1, 2004. Pursuant to the regulation, the National Development and Reform CommissionNDRC and the Ministry of Commerce will determine the total volume of the PRC’ssets an annual export quota for domestic coal producers and allocate the quota among authorized coal exporters. The announcement of the export quota available for each fiscal year must be made no later than October 31st of the prior year. After the export quota has been announced, the National Development and Reform CommissionNDRC and the Ministry of Commerce will begin accepting written applications from authorized coal exporters for an allocation of the following year’s quota.

This regulation did not have a material adverse effect on our export sales in 2007 because ourOur export agents have historically received an allocation of the export quota sufficient to satisfy our export volume. However, we are unable to predict what impact, if any, the export quota may have on the level of our export coal sales in 20082009 and later years. In 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, our export sales of coal (not including the sales by Yancoal Australia) accounted for approximately 10.2%9.9%, 9.9%3.2%, and 3.2%,0.7% respectively, of the PRC’s total coal export. If the quota for national coal exports is reduced, the level of our export sales in future periods could be affected, which in turn could adversely affect our results of operations.

We do not have an export permit and consequently, do not have direct export rights for our coal. As a result, all of our export sales must be made through intermediary export agents. We use export agent services provided by China Coal Energy Group Company, China National Minerals Import and Export Company Limited and Shanxi Coal Import and Export Group Company (collectively, the “Export Agency Companies”). The volume, coal specifications, pricing and final destination of our export sales are determined collectively by us, the Export Agency Companies and our overseas customers. Although we have applied to the PRC Central Government for direct export rights with the assistance of the Shandong provincial government, there can be no assurance that we can obtain such rights. If we cannot obtain an export permit granting us direct export rights, we will have to continue to rely on export agents to export our coal.

The Controlling Shareholder’s operations have a significant impact on us.

As of December 31, 2007, the2008, our Controlling Shareholder, Yankuang Group, owned 52.86% of our outstanding shares and thereby its operations haveexerts significance impact oninfluence over us. We may continue to enter into a number of connected transactions with Yankuang Group. Pursuant to the regulations of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange on continuing connected transactions, and the actual operations of us and the Controlling Shareholder, we completedcomplete the necessary review and approval procedures for ourbefore entering into continuing connected transactions as required by law and continued or entered intotransactions. From 2006 to 2008, we had six continuing connected transaction agreements, (“Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements”), including the Provision of Materials and Water Supply Agreement, Provision of Electricity Agreement, Provision of Labor and Services Agreement, Provision of Equipment Maintenance and Repair Works Agreement, Provision of Products and Services Agreement and Provision of Administrative Services for Pension Fund and Retirement Benefits Agreement withAgreement. In the Controlling Shareholder in the firstfourth quarter of 2006.2008, we approved the amendment and renewal of five continuing connected transactions (the “New Continuing Connected Transactions”), taking care to ensure that the transaction amount for each of these agreements stayed within approved annual limits. For details on the execution ofagreements for the New Continuing Connected Transactions, see “Item 7. — Major Shareholders and Related Party Transaction”. Any material financial or operational developments experienced by the Controlling Shareholder which lead to the disruption of its operations or impairs its ability to perform the Continuing Connected Transactionscontinuing connected transactions could materially affect our operations and future prospects.

Our operations are affected by a number of risks relating to the PRC.

A significant majority of our assets and operations are located in the PRC, as such, we are subject to a number of risks relating to the PRC, including, but not limited to, the following:

 

The central and local governments of the PRC have historically supported the continued development and operation of the PRC coal industry.industry and the continued operation of certain coal producers. A change in the current policies that are favorable to us may adversely affect theour operational flexibility that we have and our ability to expand our business operations or increase our profitability.

Under current PRC regulatory requirements, ourthe capital expenditure allocated for the development ofwe allocate to develop new coal mine projects requiremust be approved by the PRC Government approvals.Government. Failure to obtain timely approvalapprovals for our projects may adversely affect our financial conditionbusiness plans and operating results.

Since 1997, the PRC Government has promulgated a series of laws and regulations to stimulate the overall development of the PRC economy. Despite efforts to develop the PRC legal system, it is continuously evolving and the enforcement and interpretation of certain laws remains uncertain. In addition, interpretation of statutes and regulations may be influenced by evolving government policies and political change.

 

On July 21, 2005, China adopted a managed floating exchange rate system to allow the value of the Renminbi to fluctuate within a regulated band based on market supply and demand with reference to a basket of currencies. Fluctuations in exchange rates may adversely affect the value of our net assets, earnings and any declared dividends when translated or converted into U.S. dollars or Hong Kong dollars. RMB fluctuations mainly affect (a) our income from coal exports denominated in foreign currencies;currencies, (b) the conversion of foreign currency deposits;deposits, and (c) our coststhe import cost of imported equipment and fittings.

 

The PRC Government will continue to reform the PRC economic system. A number of reforms are unprecedented or experimental and may be subject to refinement and adjustments. OtherWe may be directly affected by these reforms or indirectly affected by changes in political, economic and social factors that affect us may also be modified byresult from these reform measures, and we may be adversely affected by the effect of these reforms.measures. Our operating results may be adversely affected by changes in the PRC’s economic and social conditions and by changes in the policies of the PRC Government policies including, but not limited to, changes in laws and regulations (or the interpretation thereof) related to measures toinflation control, inflation,economic stimulus policies, tax policies and rates, currency conversion restrictions and tarifftariffs and other import restrictions.

 

Since 1997, the PRC Government has promulgated a series of laws and regulations related to the overall development of the PRC economy. Despite efforts to develop the PRC legal system, it is continuously evolving and the enforcement and interpretation of certain laws remains uncertain. Even where adequate law exists, enforcement of existing laws or contracts may be inconsistent and arbitrary, and it may be difficult to obtain swift and equitable enforcement or to obtain enforcement of a judgment by a court of another jurisdiction. The lack of precedents in PRC’s judiciary creates additional uncertainty as to the possible outcome of any litigation. In addition, interpretation of statutes and regulations may be subject to evolving government policies and political changes.

A new Labor Contract Law of the PRC became effective on January 1, 2008, which imposes more stringent requirements for signing labor contracts, paying remuneration, stipulating probation and penalties and terminating labor contracts. We cannot assure you that efforts taken to comply with the requirements of this new Labor Contract Law will not adversely affect our business or operations.

We are exposed to fluctuations in exchange rates.

We face risks stemming from currency exchange fluctuation between the Australian dollar and U.S. dollar because our export sales are denominated in U.S. dollars but our operations in Australia incur costs and expenses in Australian dollars. An appreciation of the Renminbi against the U.S. dollar may similarly reduce the value of our export sales, and a depreciation of the Renminbi would increase our costs of importing equipment and components.

In 2008, we entered into forward foreign exchange contracts to buy Australian dollars at a specified rate to manage the currency risks of forecasted sales denominated in U.S. dollars. As of December 31, 2008, the fair value liability of our forward contracts was approximately RMB29.4 million as a result of the Australian dollar’s depreciation. We cannot assure that our hedging arrangement will be effective or that our results of operations will be not negatively affected by exchange fluctuations.

Our coal operations are extensively regulated by the PRC Government and government regulations may limit our activities and adversely affect our business operations.

Our coal operations, like other PRC energy companies, are subject to extensive regulation by the PRC Government. National governmental authorities, such as the National Development and Reform Commission, the StateMinistry of Environmental Protection, Administration, the Ministry of Land and Resources, the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety and the State Bureau of Taxation, as well as corresponding provincial

and local authorities and agencies exercise extensive control over various aspects of the mining and transportation (including rail and sea transport) of coal in China. Oversight from these authorities and agencies affectsmay affect, among others, the following aspects of our operations:

 

the exploration, exploitation, use and grantinggrant of mining rights;

 

rehabilitation of land surrounding mining sites after mining ;and surrounding areas;

 

mining recovery rate requirements;rates;

 

pricing of our coal transportation services;

 

taxes and fees for our industry and levies imposed by government authorities as promulgated from time to time;

 

application of our capital investments;

 

export quotas and procedures;

 

pension fund appropriations;

 

preferential tax treatment; and

 

environmental and safety standards.

As a result of regulatory oversight, our ability to execute our business strategies or to carry out or expand our business operations may be limited.restricted. We may experience substantial delays in obtaining regulatory approvals, permits and licenses in connection withfor our business operations. Our business may also be adversely affected by future changes in the PRC Government’s regulations and policies related tothat affect the coal industry. The adoption of new legislation or regulations, or the new interpretation of existing legislation or regulations, may materially and adversely affect our operations, our cost structure or demand for our products.product demand. The occurrence of any of the foregoing may cause us to substantially change our existing operations or incur significant compliance costs.

 

ITEM 4.INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY

A. History and Development of our Company

A.History and Development of our Company

Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited was established on September 25, 1997 as a joint stock company with limited liability under the Company Law of the PRC (the “Company Law”). The Predecessorpredecessor of our Company, Yanzhou Mining Bureau, was established in 1976. Upon the approval from the former State Economic and Trade Commission and the former Ministry of Coal Industry

(“MOCI”) in 1996, the Predecessorpredecessor was incorporated under the name Yanzhou Mining (Group) Corporation Limited and subsequently, renamed Yankuang Group Corporation Limited after undergoing reorganization in 1999.

In January 1999, we were approved by the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation, the predecessor of the Ministry of Commerce, to convert from a joint stock company with limited liability to a Sino-foreign joint stock company with limited liability under the Company Law and the Sino-Foreign Joint Venture Law of the PRC. Our H Shares accounted for 39.82% of our total outstanding shares as of December 31, 2007.2008.

Our contact information is:

 

•        Business address:address

 :        

298 Fushan South Road

Zoucheng, Shandong Province

People’s Republic of China

•        Telephone number:number

:         (86) 537 538 2319

•        Website:Website

:         www.yanzhoucoal.com.cn/english/index.asp

We primarily engage in the underground mining, preparation and sale of coal as well as the railway transportation of coal. In 2007, weWe believe we were one of the largest coal producerproducers in Eastern China.China in 2008.

In 2007,2008, we produced approximately 35.636.1 million tonnes of raw coal, including 32.833.1 million tonnes by the Company, 1.61.1 million tonnes by Shanxi Nenghua and 1.9 million tonnes by Yancoal Australia and 1.2 million tonnes by Shanxi Nenghua.Australia. We sold 35.137.6 million tonnes of coal in 2007,2008, of which 32.532.4 million tonnes was produced and sold by the Company.Company and 2.6 million tonnes was sales of coal that we had purchased from other coal producers for resale. In the same year, Yancoal Australia sold 1.41.5 million tonnes of coal, and Shanxi Nenghua sold 1.21.1 million tonnes of coal. In 2007, we had2008, our overseas coal sales of 3.2volume was 1.8 million tonnes of coal, including 1.7approximately 0.3 million tonnes of export sales by the Company and 1.41.5 million tonnes of coal sales by Yancoal Australia.

The Company has six coal mines located in Shandong Province: Nantun, Xinglongzhuang, Baodian, Dongtan, Jining II and Jining III (collectively, the “Six Coal Mines”), which commenced production in 1973, 1981, 1986, 1989, 1997 and 2000, respectively. As of December 31, 2007,2008, the Six Coal Mines had an estimated collective in-place proven and probable reserve base of approximately 1,898.61,866.0 million tonnes. Not included in this estimate are theThe reserves of Yancoal Australia’s Austar Coal Mine, Shanxi Nenghua’s Tianchi Coal Mine and Heze Nenghua’s Zhaolou Coal Mine.Mine are not included in this estimate. Yancoal Australia and Shanxi Nenghua commenced production in the fourth quarter of 2006 and held recoverable reserves of approximately 50.048.0 million tonnes and 29.228.5 million tonnes of coal, respectively. Asrespectively, as of the date of this Annual Report,December 31, 2008. Zhaolou Coal Mine has yet to commencecommenced production in March, 2009 and hadheld an estimated recoverable coal reserve of approximately 106.0 million tonnes.tonnes as of December 31, 2008.

We have successfully developed and introduced into our operations a full set of equipment that is capable of a comprehensive mechanized caving processprocesses designed to extract coal from medium to thick coal seams. The technology content of this patented mechanized caving method meets leading international technology standards. We intend to continue to improve our proprietary caving method for our internal use and for third party licensing.

The significant costs of transporting coal make the location of coal mines a significant competitive factor. We believe that the locationsproximity of our mines to key customers enhance our competitivenesscompetitiveness. The location of our mines positions us for long-term growth given the rapid economic growth of Eastern China region, the insufficient supply of coalregionally produced in the Eastern China regioncoal and the substantial costs involved in transporting coal from other major coal-producing provinces such as Shaanxi Province, Shanxi Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to Eastern China. NetOur net sales of coal representrepresents our invoiced value of coal sold and are net ofwith deductions for returns, discounts, sales taxes, transportation costs, port fees and various miscellaneous fees relating to salesa sale, as well as transportation costs if the invoiced value includes transportation costs charged to our customers. In 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, we generated 50.2%55.2%, 55.2%64.3% and 64.3%61.7%, respectively, of our total net sales of coal from sales tofrom customers within Shandong Province. Our largest end customer, Zouxian Power Plant of Huadian International, accounted for 13.4%11.3%, 11.3%12.1% and 12.1%12.9% of our total net sales of coal in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively. Net sales to customers located in the rapidly growing Yangtze deltaDelta region, encompassingwhich encompasses Shanghai Municipality, Jiangsu Province and Zhejiang Province, composed 15.3%composed13.8%, 13.8%13.3% and 13.3%10.3% of our total net sales of coal in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively. Our overseas sales, which include the export sales of the Company and the sales of Yancoal Australia, accounted for 25.8%20.7%, 20.7%8.9% and 8.9%7.1% of our total net sales of coal in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively.

The coal reserve base of the Six Coal Mine’s coal reserve baseMines primarily consists of premium quality, low-sulfurlow-sulphur coal, thatwhich is capable of yielding a processed coal product with an ash content as low as 6%7%. Our other coal mines, Austar Coal Mine, Tianchi Coal Mine and Zhaolou Coal Mine, produce semi-hard coking coal, steam coal and 1/3 coking coal, respectively. We primarily sell thermal coal, which is suitable for large-scale electricitypower generation, as well as semi-soft coking coal and pulverized coal, which are used in metallurgical production. Our primary customers include power plants and metallurgical mills located in Eastern China and the areasregions along the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, which are generally more economically developed than other regions of China, as well asChina. In addition, we export a portion of our coal to foreign enterprises located in East Asia. 20.8%22.9%, 22.9%23.1% and 23.1%27.7% of our total net sales of coal in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively, were derived from sales to power generation companies in the PRC, and the remainder of our net sales of coal were sales to metallurgical mills, chemical manufacturers, construction materialsmaterial manufacturers and fuel trading companies. Our major domestic customers include Huadian International, Dongguan City Ming Shing Energy Limited, Baoshan Iron & SteelLinyi Yehua Coking Co., Ltd, AluminumBaosteel Resource Group Corporation, of China Limited Shandong Branch and Zhejiang Fuxing Electric FuelTiexiong Energy Corp. Co., Ltd. and Huangdao Power Plant of Shandong. We believe that we have well-established relationships with ourthese key customers.

Establishment of Shaanxi Yushuwan Coal Mine Company Limited

We entered into a joint venture agreement on August 16, 2006 to set up Yushuwan Coal Mine Company with Chia Tai Energy Chemical Limited (“Chia Tai Company”) and Yushen Coal Company Limited (“Yushen Company”) of Yulin City. As of the date of this annual report, the application for the establishment of Yushuwan Coal Mine Company was still pending review by the relevant regulatory authorities. The registered capital of Yushuwan Coal Mine Company is RMB480.0 million. According toIn accordance with the joint venture agreement, the Company will contribute RMB196.8 million to acquire a 41% equity interest in Yushuwan Coal Mine Company. Chia Tai Company will contribute RMB192 million to acquire 40% of the equity interest in Yushuwan Coal Mine Company;Company, and Yushen Company will contribute RMB91.2 million to acquire a 19% equity interest.

Yushuwan Coal Mine Company will primarily engage in the construction and operation of Yushuwan Coal Mine. Yushuwan Coal Mine is located in the Yushen coal mining area in Yulin City, Shaanxi Province in the PRC.China. Yushuwan Coal Mine has a designed annual capacity of 8 million tonnes of coal, which will primarily consist of steam coal and thermal coal. As of December 31, 2007,2008, we had made a deposit of RMB118.0 million in relation to this joint venture, and we are committed to invest a furtheran additional RMB78.8 million. As of the date of this Annual Report,annual report, the application for the establishment of Yushuwan Coal Mine Company was still pending review by the relevant regulatory authorities.

Acquisition of Shanxi Nenghua

In December 2006, the Company acquired a 98% equity interest in Yankuang Shanxi Power Chemical Co., Ltd. (“Shanxi Nenghua”) from the Yankuang Group. In February 2007, we acquired the remaining 2% equity interest in Shanxi Nenghua from Lunan Fertilizer Plant, aanother subsidiary of Yankuang Group and became the sole owner of Shanxi Nenghua. Shanxi Nenghua owns an 81.31% equity interest in Tianchi Energy and approximately 99.85% equity interest in Tianhao Chemicals.Energy. Tianchi Energy is primarily engaged in the operation of Tianchi Coal Mine, which commenced production in November 2006. Shanxi Nenghua also owns a 99.85% equity interest in Tianhao Chemicals. Tianhao Chemicals is primarily engaged in the operation and construction of a methanol facility with a 100,000 tonne annual capacity, which commenced preliminary productioncommercial operations in the beginning ofSeptember 2008.

Increasing the registered capital ofInvestment in Heze Nenghua

On April 20,In 2007, the Board approved an increase in Heze Nenghua’sNenghua increased its registered share capital of RMB 900 million from RMB600 million to RMB1,500 million of whichand the Company contributed an additional RMB876.0 million to Heze Nenghua based on its relative ownership interest.interest in this subsidiary. After the capital contribution, the Company’s equity interest in Heze Nenghua increased from 95.67% to 96.67%. The increased registered capital will bewas mainly used for the construction of Zhaolou Coal Mine.Mine, which commenced operations in March 2009.

Establishment of Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited

On August 23, 2007, the Company entered into a joint venture investmentan agreement to establish Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited. This joint ventureHuadian Zouxian, an associate company, was established by the Company, together with Huadian International and Zoucheng Municipal Assets Operation Company on November 21, 2007. The registered capital of Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited, is RMB3,000 million, of which 69% was contributed by Huadian International, 30% by the Company contributed RMB900 million, representing approximately 30% ofand the registered capital.remaining 1% by Zoucheng Municipal Assets Operation Company.

According to the joint venture investment agreement, the joint ventureThis company will be principally engaged in the construction, operation and management of two coal-fired generating units, each with capacity of 1,000 MW, forMW. The construction of these generating units is part of the Phase IV capacity expansion project of Zouxian Power Plant. This agreementcollaboration is expected to foster a long-term strategic alliance between us and Huadian International, our largest customer.customer, and us.

Heze Nenghua’s Acquisition of the Mining Rights of Zhaolou Coal Mine

We acquired 95.67% equity interest in Heze Nenghua on December 25, 2005. Pursuant to the relevant acquisition agreements, Heze Nenghua held the right to acquire the mining rights of Zhaolou Coal Mine from Yankuang Group after Yankuang Group obtain the mining rights for the coal mine. In the second quarter of 2008, we acquired the mining rights of Zhaolou Coal Mine as part of our acquisition of Heze Nenghua. We acquired approximately 95.67% equity interest in Heze Nenghua from Yankuang Group in December 2005. Pursuant to the relevant acquisition agreements, Heze Nenghua had right to acquire the mining rights of Zhaolou Coal Mine from Yankuang Group’s after Yankuang Group’s acquisition of the same mining rights. On June 28, 2006, Yankuang Group obtained thea mining right permit offor Zhaolou Coal Mine from the Ministry of Land and Resources. At the firstan extraordinary general meeting of the Company in 2008 held on January 30, 2008, the shareholders approved the acquisition of the mining rights of Zhaolou Coal Mine for a consideration of RMB747.3 million, and wemillion. We obtained Zhaolou Coal Mine’s mining rights on May 5,2008 as approved by the Ministry of Land and Resources.

Establishment of Yankuang Group Finance Company Limited

On August 3, 2007, the Board approved our establishment of Yankuang Group Finance Company Limited (“Yankuang Finance”), which is a joint venture project with Yankuang Group and Zhongcheng Trust and Investment Company Limited. Yankuang Group will provide depositary and loan provision services to its members, as well as internal transfers for the settlement of funds among its account holders. The name and business scope of the company are subject to approval by China Banking Regulatory Commission and other relevant industry and commerce registration authorities. The proposed registered capital of Yankuang Finance is RMB500 million, of which the Company will contribute RMB125 million, representing 25% of the equity interest. As of the date of this annual report, we were still in the process of establishing Yankuang Finance.

Acquisition of equity interests and increase in registered share capital of Yulin Nenghua

In May 2008, we acquired the remaining 2% equity interest of Yulin Nenghua from Shandong Chuanye Investment development Co., Ltd and 1% equity interest from China Hualu Engineering Company for a total cash consideration of RMB24.0 million. We completed the required registration procedure for these equity transfers in June 2008. After these acquisitions, Yulin Nenghua became one of our wholly owned subsidiaries.

In May 2008, we injected RMB600 million into Yulin Nenghua to fund Yulin Nenghua’s methanol project construction, raising the registered capital of Yulin Nenghua from 800 million to RMB1,400 million. We used the proceeds raised in the issuance of new H Shares in 2004 for the capital injection.

Acquisition of 74% Equity Interest in Hua Ju Energy

On December 23, 2008, our shareholders approved our acquisition of a 74% equity interest in Hua Ju Energy from Yankuang Group, for a total consideration of RMB593.2 million. The necessary share transfer procedures were completed on February 18, 2009. The objective of the Hua Ju Energy acquisition is to secure a reliable and cost-effective supply of electricity for our coal mining operations, which will be beneficial to the future development of our Company. The acquisition enables us to (i) reduce the number of connected transactions with Yankuang Group; (ii) secure a stable supply of electricity and reduce operating costs; and (iii) apply the by-products of our mining operations, such as coal gangue and coal slurry products, to generate revenue from a environmentally-friendly power generation business.

Capital Expenditures

Our principal source of cash in 20072008 was cash generated from our operating activities. Our principal capital expenditures in 20072008 were for operational expenses, the acquisition of property, plantplants and equipment and the distribution of shareholders’ dividends and the establishmentacquisition of Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited.mining rights to Zhaolou Coal Mine. In 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, our total capital expenditure on property, plant and equipment was RMB1,290.5 million, RMB3,363.4 million, RMB2,928.0 million and RMB2,928.0RMB2,066.2 million, respectively. For more information, see “Item 5. Operating and Financial Review and Prospects B. Liquidity and Capital Resources”.

Implementation of Share Reform

The table below summarizes special undertakings made by Yankuang Group as the shareholderholder of the original non-tradable shares of our Company pursuant to thea share reform plan entered into on March 31, 2006 and an update on the performance status of the undertakings:

 

Name of Shareholders

  

Special Undertakings

  

Performance of Undertakings

Yankuang Group

Corporation Limited

  

(1)    The formerly non-tradable shares of the Company held by Yankuang Group should not be listed for trading purposes within forty-eight months from the date of execution of the share reform plan.

  The relevant shares have not been listed for trading purposes.trading.
  

(2)    In 2006, Yankuang Group must transfer to the Company part of its coal and power operations and other new projects that are in line with the Company’s development strategies.strategy. These transfers will be made in accordance with the relevant PRC regulations and with a view to enhancing the operating results of the Company and reducing the amountnumber of connected transactions and competition between Yankuang Group and the Company. Yankuang Group must allow the Company to jointly participate and invest in a coal liquefaction project, which is being developed by Yankuang Group.

  

In 2006, Yankuang Group completed the transfer of the coal project and the electricity project contemplated in the undertakings to the Company.

 

Yankuang Group is in the process of implementing its other undertakings, and no material progress has been made as of the date of this Annualannual report.

Name of Shareholders

Special Undertakings

Performance of Undertakings

and competition between Yankuang Group and the Company. Yankuang Group must allow the Company to jointly participate and invest in a coal liquefaction project, which is being developed by Yankuang Group.

Report.
  

3)(3)    All related expenses accrued by the share reform for the non-tradable shares should be borne by Yankuang Group.

  The undertaking has been fulfilled.

B. Business Overview

Principal Products and Services

B.Business Overview

We are primarily engaged in the underground mining, preparation and sale of coal, as well as the provision of railway transportation services for coal. In 2008, we also commenced the production and sale of methanol and electric power.

Coal ProductionProducts and Railway Transportation Services

We produce premium quality, low-sulfur coal that is capable of yielding a processed coal product with an ash content as low as 5%. Our products consist principally of thermal coal and semi-soft coking coal, which are suitable for large-scale power generation and metallurgical production, respectively. The following table sets forth the ash and sulfur content, calorific value and principal applications of our coal products.

  Sulfur
Content
  Range of
and Average
Ash

Content
  Calorific
Value
 Washed  

Principal Application

  Sulfur
Content
  Range of
and Average
Ash Content
  Calorific Value  Washed  

Principal Application

  %  %  (megajoule/
kilogram)
     %  %  (megajoule/
kilogram)
      

No.1 Clean Coal

  0.4  7-8
average 7.6
  26-28
average 27.6
 Yes  High-quality metallurgical production  0.44  7-8
average 7.79
  26-28
average 27.84
  Yes  High-quality metallurgical production

No.2 Clean Coal

  0.5  8-10
average 9.6
  26-28
average 26.8
 Yes  Metallurgical production, construction, liquidize coal production  0.49  8-9
average 8.57
  26-28
average 27.57
  Yes  Metallurgical production, construction, liquidize coal production

No.3 Clean Coal

  0.6  9-16
average 13
  24-26
average 25.3
 Yes  Metallurgical production, electricity generation, coal chemical production  0.53  10-11
average 10.43
  26.3-26.9
average 26.63
  Yes  Electricity generation and coal chemical production

Lump Coal

  0.6  12-14
average 13
  25-26
average 25.5
 Yes  Construction, power generation, coal for oven application  0.48  9-14
average 9.81
  25-28
average 27.86
  Yes  Construction, power generation, coal for oven application

Australian Clean Coal

  1.25  5.0  33  Yes  Metallurgical production

Screened Raw Coal

  0.6  18-27
average 20.3
  24-26
average 25.3
 No  Power generation  0.6  18-27
average 25.7
  20-23.5
average 21.36
  No  Power generation

Mixed Coal

  0.6  22-30
average 29.3
  18-22
average 20.1
 Yes  Power generation�� 0.6  22-30
average 29.3
  18-22
average 20.1
  Yes  Power generation

Tianchi Raw Coal

  0.8  23-30,
average 26.5
  20-25,
average 22.5
 No  Power generation  1.06  27-30,
average 29
  21-23,
average 22.05
  No  Power generation

Australian Clean Coal

  1.25  5.0  33 Yes  Metallurgical production

In 2007, we producedWe sold approximately 35.637.6 million tonnes of coal in 2008, representing a decreasean increase of 0.42.5 million tonnes or 1.1%7.0%, as compared with our production in 2006.to 2007. In particular, (1) the Company sold 32.4 million tonnes of coal, representing a slight decrease of approximately 100,000 tonnes or 0.3%, compared to 2007. Shanxi Nenghua produced 32.81.1 million tonnes of raw coal, representing a decrease of 2.7approximately 90,000 tonnes or 7.6%, compared to 2007 and Yancoal Australia sold 1.5 million tonnes or 7.5%, as compared to 2006; (2) Yancoal Australia produced 1.6 million tonnes of raw coal; representing an increase of 1.1 million tonnes, as compared to 2006; and (3) Shanxi Nenghua produced 1.2 million tonnes of raw coal, representing an increase of 1.1 million tones, asapproximately 60,00 tonnes or 4.2%, compared to 2006. Yancoal Australia2007. To capitalize on our coal marketing network and Shanxi Nenghua commenced commercial productionincrease our profits, we purchased coal from other producers for resale and conducted these external sales in October and November 2006, respectively.

2008. We sold approximately 35.12.6 million tonnes of externally purchased coal, which was produced by other companies, in 2007, representing an increase of 0.5 million tonnes or 1.3%, as compared to 2006. In particular, (1) the Company sold 32.5 million tonnes of coal, a decrease of 1.8 million tonnes, or 5.4%, as compared to 2006; (2) Yancoal Australia sold 1.4 million tonnes of coal, an increase of 1.2 million tonnes, as compared to 2006; and (3) Shanxi Nenghua produced 1.2 million tonnes of raw coal, an increase of 1.1 million tones, as compared to 2006.2008.

Net sales of coal represent our invoiced value of coal sold and are net of returns, discounts, sales taxes, transportation costs, port fees and various miscellaneous fees relating to sales if the invoiced value includes transportation costs to our customers. The following table sets out our principal coal products by sales volume and net sales of coal in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007.2008.

 

  Year Ended December 31,  Year Ended December 31,
  2005  2006  2007  2006  2007  2008
  Sales Volume  Net Sales  Sales Volume  Net Sales  Sales Volume  Net Sales  Sales Volume  Net
Sales(1)
  Sales Volume  Net
Sales(1)
  Sales Volume  Net
Sales(1)
  (‘000 tonnes)  (RMB
million)
  (‘000 tonnes)  (RMB
million)
  (‘000 tonnes)  (RMB
million)
  (‘000 tonnes)  (RMB
million)
  (‘000 tonnes)  (RMB
million)
  (‘000 tonnes)  (RMB
million)

No. 1 Clean Coal

  773.9  398.0  869.3  439.3  712.9  423.4  869.3  439.3  712.9  423.4  362.6  388.3

No. 2 Clean Coal

  5,084.5  2,499.0  5,566.3  2,668.5  7,260.0  4,251.4  5,566.3  2,668.5  7,260.0  4,251.4  7,431.1  7,692.0

No. 3 Clean Coal

  11,183.0  4,143.8  12,129.7  4,581.7  8,616.2  3,931.5  12,129.7  4,581.7  8,616.2  3,931.5  2,916.1  2,513.2

Lump Coal

  485.5  209.9  555.4  237.6  693.0  390.7  555.4  237.6  693.0  390.7  1,160.7  1,089.2

Australian Clean Coal

  —    —    192.4  114.4  1,422.6  661.7  192.4  114.4  1,422.6  661.7  1,484.5  1,527.9
                  

Subtotal for Clean Coal

  17,526.9  7,250.7  19,313.1  8,041.5  18,704.7  9,658.7  19,313.1  8,041.5  18,704.7  9,658.7  13,355.0  13,210.6

Screened Raw Coal

  10,805.4  3,478.1  10,967.3  3,160.4  12,550.7  4,092.0  10,967.3  3,160.4  12,550.7  4,092.0  19,032.6  8,575.9

Mixed Coal and others

  4,152.2  624.7  4,383.1  645.0  3,850.7  606.2  4,383.1  645.0  3,850.7  606.2  2,597.6  373.3

Externally purchased coal

  —    —    —    —    2,576.8  1,889.0
                                    

Total

  32,484.5  11,353.5  34,663.5  11,846.9  35,106.1  14,356.9  34,663.5  11,846.9  35,106.1  14,356.9  37,562.0  24,048.8
                                    

(1)Net sales of coal represent our invoiced value of coal sold with deductions for returns, discounts, sales taxes, port fees and various miscellaneous fees relating to a sale, as well as transportation costs if the invoiced value includes transportation costs charged to customers.

Railway Transportation Services

In 2002, we acquired from the Controlling Shareholder our local minefield railway transportation network (the “Railway Assets”), consisting of a total of 184 kilometers of railway track that connects our coal mines in Shandong to the national railway system, nearby distribution points and the facilities of certain key customers. As of the date of this Annualannual report, our railway network spanned a total length of 204 kilometers. Our ownership and operation of the Railway Assets provides us a greater degree of control over a major mode of product transportation, an additional revenue-generating source and the potential synergies of having a consolidated coal operation that comprises coal production, transportation and sales.

In addition to transporting coal among our facilities, we offer railway transportation services to customers, including the Controlling Shareholder. In 2007,2008, we transported 17.919.2 million tonnes of coal on our railway network, representing a decreasean increase of 1.61.3 million tonnes or 8.4%7.4% from 2006. Although our overall transportation volume decreased, our2007. Our railway transportation services income was RMB203.7RMB247.2 million in 2007,2008, representing an increase of RMB43.3RMB43.5 million or 27.0%21.3% from 2006.2007. This increase was principally due to an increase of 3.22.1 million tonnes in the volume of coal transported for external sales on an ex-mine basis, for which our customers bear theseparately pay transportation expenses associated withfor a coal purchase.

Sales and Marketing

A significant portion of our domestic sales in 20072008 was made pursuant to sales contracts and letters of intent entered into during the Annual National Coal Trading Convention, while the remainder of our coal sales are based on purchase orders placed by our customers from time to time. These agreements are the result of market-based negotiations where the parties to an agreement determine the contract price. These sales contracts and letters of intent generally specify the quantity and delivery schedule in agreements to purchase coal, generally for a term not exceeding one year. The contract prices for letters of intent are generally not determined until the time of sale.sale to reflect prevailing market prices. The remaining portion of our sales is derived from purchase orders placed by customers throughout the year when they require additional coal.

We have a flexible credit policy and adjust our credit terms for different types of customers. Depending on the customer, we may allow open accounts, require acceptance bills or require cash on delivery. Using data from our ERP system, we consider the creditworthiness and the requested credit

amount of each customer when determining the appropriate payment arrangementsarrangement and credit terms, which generally do not exceed a period over 180 days. We evaluate the creditworthiness of potential new customers before entering into a sales contract with them and reassess the creditworthiness of all of our customers on an annual basis. For customers without a strong credit history, we require them to settle their accounts upon delivery. A majority of our domestic coal sales is made to power plants, metallurgical mills, chemical manufacturers and construction materialsmaterial manufacturers. We have established long-standing and stable relationships with many of these companies. In addition, we export to overseas customers in East Asian countries such as Japan and Korea. Our export sales are made through export agency companies, to whom we pay a fee for them to enter into export sales contracts with foreign customers on our behalf.

In accordance with the relevantrecent years, PRC regulations steadily lowered the VAT export refund for our coal export sales conducted from China decreased from 13% to 11%.until the refund was completely abolished in 2006. The PRC VAT export refund further decreasedsystem generally disallows an exporter from applying the full amount of the VAT tax it has already paid for materials and equipment to 8% on May 1, 2005 and was completely abolished asoffset the amount of September 15, 2006.VAT tax it must pay for export sales. Prior to 2007,the abolishment, the difference between our VAT tax payable and our VAT refund, in relation to export sales of coal, was charged as a cost of our export sales. The abolishment of the VAT export refund for export coal sales decreased our cost of export sales by eliminating all VAT tax rate differentials.

According to the Notice of the Customs Tariff Committee of the State Council on Revising the Provisional Tariff Rates on the ImportAluminium Alloy, Coke and Export of Certain GoodsCoal (Issued by the Customs Tariff Committee of the State Council as document Shui Wei Hui [2006][2008] No. 30)25), from November 1, 2006,August 20, 2008, the State will impose a 5% exportraised the tariff rate on certain types of exported coal. Thiscoal and a 10% export tariff is not applicable to the coal exported by usus. However, we generally request our customer to bear such tariff in our coal sales agreements and such change is not expected to have a directmaterial effect on us .our business or profitability.

Net sales of coal represent the invoiced value of coal sold and are net of returns, discounts, sales taxes, transportation costs, port fees and various miscellaneous fees relating to sales if the invoiced value includes transportation costs to the customers. Sales taxes consist primarily of theinclude resource taxes imposed by Shandong and Shanxi Provinces. According to the Notice of the Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation on Revising the Standard Tariff

Rates for Coal and Resources Tax in Shandong Province (issued by the Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation as document Cai Shui [2005] No. 86), effective from May 1, 2005, the applicable resource tax rate for our coal mines located in Shandong Province increased from RMB2.4 to RMB3.6 per tonne on the imputed quantity of raw coal. According to the Notice of the Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation on Revising the Standard Tariff Rates for Coal and Resources Tax in Shanxi Province etc. (issued by the Ministry of Finance and State Administration of Taxation as document Cai Shui [2004] No. 187), the applicable resource tax rate of our coal mines in Shanxi Province is RMB3.2 per tonne. These taxes are paid to the local tax bureau.

The following table sets out our net sales of coal by industry for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007:2008:

 

  Year Ended December 31,  Year Ended December 31,
  2005  2006  2007  2006  2007  2008
  Net
Sales
  % of Net
Sales
  Net
Sales
  % of Net
Sales
  Net
Sales
  % of Net
Sales
  Net
Sales(1)
  % of Net
Sales(1)
  Net
Sales(1)
  % of Net
Sales(1)
  Net
Sales(1)
  % of Net
Sales(1)
  (RMB
million)
     (RMB
million)
     (RMB
million)
     (RMB
million)
     (RMB
million)
     (RMB
million)
   

Domestic sales

  8,421.5  74.2  9,387.7  79.2  13,075.1  91.1  9,387.7  79.2  13,075.1  91.1  22,332.5  92.9

Power plant

  2,357.6  20.8  2,718.6  22.9  3,317.2  23.1  2,718.6  22.9  3,317.2  23.1  6,654.3  27.7

Metallurgical mills

  811.4  7.1  607.9  5.1  1,002.3  7.0  607.9  5.1  1,002.3  7.0  1,802.6  7.5

Construction material and chemical manufacturers

  686.2  6.0  2,037.3  17.2  4,668.5  32.5  2,037.3  17.2  4,668.5  32.5  4,692.5  19.5

Fuel trading companies and others

  4,566.2  40.3  4,023.9  34.0  4,087.1  28.5  4,023.9  34.0  4,087.1  28.5  9,183.1  38.2

Overseas sales(1)

  2,932.0  25.8  2,459.2  20.8  1,281.8  8.9

Overseas sales (2)

  2,459.2  20.8  1,281.8  8.9  1,716.3  7.1

Power plant

  1,952.0  17.2  1,680.1  14.2  536.9  3.7  1,680.1  14.2  536.9  3.7  153.7  0.6

Metallurgical mills

  967.6  8.5  779.1  6.6  745.0  5.2  779.1  6.6  745.0  5.2  1,562.6  6.5

Others

  12.4  0.1  —    —    —    —  

Total

  11,353.5  100.0  11,846.9  100.0  14,356.9  100.0  11,846.9  100.0  14,356.9  100.0  24,048.8  100.0
                                    

 

(1)Net sales of coal represent our invoiced value of coal sold with deductions for returns, discounts, sales taxes, port fees and various miscellaneous fees relating to a sale, as well as transportation costs if the invoiced value includes transportation costs charged to customers.
(2)Overseas sales include the Company’s export sales and all of Yancoal Australia’s sales.

Our domestic coal sales are concentrated in Eastern China, particularly in Shandong Province. The following table sets out our net sales of coal by geographical region for 2005,the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2007:2008:

 

  Year Ended December 31,  Year Ended December 31,
  2005  2006  2007  2006  2007  2008
  Net
Sales
  % of Net
Sales
  Net
Sales
  % of Net
Sales
  Net
Sales
  % of Net
Sales
  Net
Sales(1)
  % of Net
Sales
  Net
Sales(1)
  % of Net
Sales
  Net
Sales(1)
  % of Net
Sales
  (RMB
million)
     (RMB
million)
     (RMB
million)
     (RMB
million)
     (RMB
million)
     (RMB
million)
   

Eastern China

                        

Shandong Province

  5,697.4  50.2  6,544.7  55.2  9,224.5  64.3  6,544.7  55.2  9,224.5  64.3  14,841.7  61.7

Jiangsu Province

  674.7  5.9  677.3  5.7  1,055.6  7.4  677.3  5.7  1,055.6  7.4  1,041.2  4.3

Zhejiang Province

  536.3  4.7  449.1  3.8  492.6  3.4  449.1  3.8  492.6  3.4  585.3  2.4

Shanghai

  528.8  4.7  506.6  4.3  365.4  2.5  506.6  4.3  365.4  2.5  855.9  3.6

Other provinces in Eastern China(1)

  560.9  5.0  386.9  3.2  889.7  6.2  386.9  3.2  889.7  6.2  1,895.0  7.9
                  

Eastern China region subtotal

  7,998.1  70.5  8,564.6  72.2  12,027.8  83.8  8,564.6  72.2  12,027.8  83.8  19,219.1  79.9

Southern China region

  423.4  3.7  801.2  6.8  803.7  5.6  801.2  6.8  803.7  5.6  951.5  4.0

Other provinces (2)

  —    —    21.9  0.2  243.6  1.7  21.9  0.2  243.6  1.7  2,161.9  9.0

Overseas

  2,932.0  25.8  2459.2  20.8  1281.8  8.9  2459.2  20.8  1281.8  8.9  1,716.3  7.1
                                    

Total

  11,353.5  100.0  11,846.9  100.0  14,356.9  100.0  11,846.9  100.0  14,356.9  100.0  24,048.8  100.0
                                    

 

(1)“Other provinces in Eastern China”Net sales of coal represent our invoiced value of coal sold with deductions for returns, discounts, sales taxes, port fees and various miscellaneous fees relating to a sale, as well as transportation costs if the invoiced value includes Anhui Province, Fujian Province and Jiangxi Province whereas Southern China includes Guangdong Province and Hunan Province.transportation costs charged to customers.
(2)“Other provinces” refers to the sales areadestination of coalscoal produced by Tianchi Coal Mines in Shanxi Province for 2007.and the destination of our sales of externally purchased coal.

The following table sets out our major domestic and overseas customers:

 

Domestic

  

Overseas+

Huadian Power International Corporation LimitedMitsui Mining Co. Ltd.
Shanghai Baosteel Group Corporation.

Ube Industries, Ltd.

Jinin Hongyun Materials LtdIdemitsu Kosan Co. Ltd.
Shanghai Electric Fuel Ltd  Pohang Iron and Steel Co. Ltd
Zhejiang Zheneng Fuxing FuelLinyi Yehua Coking Co., Ltd  Kyushu ElectricJFE Steel Corporation
Shanghai Resource Group CorporationNippon Steel Corporation
Shandong Tiexiong Energy Corp. Co., LtdMitsui Mining Co. Ltd.
Huangdao Power Co. Inc.Plant of ShandongUbe Industries, Ltd

 

+Through Export Agency Companiesthrough export agency companies

As of December 31, 2007,2008, Huadian International was our largest customer. In 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, we provided 5.6 million, 4.9 million, 5.4 million and 5.48.8 million tonnes of coal respectively to Huadian International, which represented 13.7%14.2%, 11.5%15.5% and 12.2%23.3% of our net sales of coal,volume, respectively. A substantial portion of Huadian International’s coal purchases was, in turn, supplied to Zouxian Power Plant. Zouxian Power Plant’s total demand for coal in 20072008 was 9.011.8 million tonnes. We provided an estimated 83.6%92.9%, 92.9%60.8% and 60.8%57.3% of Zouxian Power Plant’s annual coal requirement in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively. Our sales volume and net sales

As of coal generated from Zouxian Power Plant increased from 2006 to 2007. However, Zouxian Power Plant underwent a capacity expansion in the fourth quarterdate of 2006 and therefore, significantly increased its coal demand in 2007. As a result, the coalthis annual report, we supplied decreased as a percentage of Zouxian Power Plant’s total coal demand in 2007. Nevertheless, we expect to continue our role as the major coal supplier for Zouxian Power Plant. In addition, we also increased our sales to construction materials and chemicals manufacturers from 2005 to 2007, who generally purchase our coal at a higher price than power plants.

We have entered into a sale and purchase agreement with Huadian Internationaldomestic sales agreements to provide 7.37.8 million tonnes of coal for its operations during 2008 at a price of RMB470.15RMB502.62 per tonne. This agreement represented a 2.5tonne inclusive of tax. Among which, the Company has, with the coordination of government authorities, entered into main electric sales contracts for 4.3 million tonnes of coal at the average benchmark price of RMB463.86 per tonne (inclusive of tax), representing an increase of RMB17.83 per tonne, or 52.1% sales volume increase4%, from the average benchmark price of electric coal in 2008. In 2006, 2007 and a RMB129.12 or 37.9% price increase per tonne of coal. We estimate that we will generate approximately RMB3,432.1 million in sales from this agreement.

In 2005, 2006 and 2007,2008, net sales to our five largest domestic customers accounted for 20.2%22.4%, 22.4%26.0% and 26.0%33.0%, respectively, of our total net sales of coal. We generated RMB4,318.5 million from Huadian International in 2008, which represented 18.0% of our net sales.

Excluding the sales of Yancoal Australia, we exported 7.3 million, 6.3 million and 3.2 million tonnes of coal in 2005, 2006 and 2007, accounting for approximately 10.2%, 9.9% and 3.2% of the PRC’s total coal export volume in the respective periods. Our Company’s export sales as a percentage of our total net sales of coal decreased from 19.8% in 2006 to 4.3% in 2007.2007 to 0.8% in 2008. We have

decreased our export sales in recent years as our gross margins for domestic coal prices have exceeded export coal prices and madeincreased, making domestic sales more profitable.profitable than export sales. Most of our major overseas end-users are located in East Asian countries, such as Japan and Korea, with Japan being our largest export market. Even though we conduct all of our export sales from the PRC through export agency companies, we have establishedmaintain close relationships with our overseas customers.

Our sales and marketing department conducts routine customer visits and customer satisfaction surveys to keep abreast on market developments and continually improve our business. In addition, we collect market information throughoutfrom Eastern China, and Southern China and other regions, which is used by the entire Company for business planning and execution purposes.

Product Pricing

The pricing for our coal products is generally based on negotiation between contracting parties that reflect market conditions. However, a portion of our thermal coal sales may be affected by pricing guidance announced by the PRC Government from time to time or subject to temporary price controls. See “Item 3. D. Risk Factors—Factors — Our products may be subject governmental price control measures, which may adversely affect our profitability.”

We consider the following when we make pricing decisions:decisions for our coal products: (i) prevailing prices in the relevant local coal markets (inclusive of transportation costs); (ii) the grade and quality of the coal; and (iii) the strength of our customer relationship with the potential purchaser. In most domestic sales transactions, customers bear the transportation costs for the delivery of the coal. Our sales and marketing department has access to domestic and international market information through our data center, enabling us to closely monitor pricing developments in our principal markets. Although we do not have direct export rights, export prices are determined by us, the Exports Sales Companies, and our final customers after negotiations.

Product Delivery

Most of our major coal customers are located in Eastern China and, the remaining customers are located in Southern and Northern China. We primarily use railways and the highways to transport our coal. To a lesser extent, we also to ship our coal on domestic and international shipping lanes.

With our railway network, we are able to deliver coal directly to our largest end-user customer, Zouxian Power Plant. Our railway network also connectsPlant or connect to the national railway system, enabling us to deliver products to other consumers.

We also deliver our coal on the national railway system to ports such as, Rizhao, Qingdao and Lianyungang, from which we ship coal to customers. Rizhao port is our main port for shipping coal. We also use the Beijing-Shanghai railway line to access Qingdao and Lianyungang ports. In 2005, 2006 and 2007, approximately 54.4%, 50.2% and 37.3% of our total net sales of coal, respectively, were derived from sales of coal that were transported on the PRC national railway system. The decrease primarily resulted from a decrease in our export sales of coal, which are generally transported on the national railway system to the export port.

We also use the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal to ship coal on barges to customers located in the area serviced by the canal. In 2003, we funded the construction of the Jining Siheco Coal Port to develop the coal market surrounding the Beijing–Hangzhou Grand Canal, which commenced operations in the first quarter of 2004.

We plan to construct a privately operated railway to connect Zhaolou Coal Mine with the national railway system. Before the completion of such plan, we rely on trucking to deliver coal from Zhaolou Coal Mine to the national railway and certain customers.

In the Shanxi Province, we use the Yangshe Railway that intersects the Tianchi Coal Mine area to directly deliver coal to Hebei Province and nearby areas, as well as to connect to variousthe national railways.railway system.

To transport Yancoal Australia’s coal products to Newcastle Port in Australia, we use the private railway networks of other transportation providers and use the Australia’s state railways.

Mining ProcessesProcess

Our underground mining operations consist of four main steps: tunneling, coal extraction, transportation and coal preparation. The tunneling process is necessary for the construction of underground roadways, which is required for the installation of mining equipment. We conduct a

majority of our tunneling using high-powered headers and use this method whenever geological conditions permit. When the use of headers is not feasible, we use explosives to excavate tunnels. Coal extracted during tunneling is carried by conveyor belts to our underground storage bunkers to be stored together with coal extracted from the coal work-faces. Rock and other minerals produced during the excavation of roadways are separated and transported out of the mine.

The extraction process is completed by a standardized and fully mechanized longwall operation, which includes shearers that work in conjunction with conveyers to cut and transport the coal away from the longwall work-face. For coal seams up to 4.5 meters, we use a fully mechanized method to extract coal from the longwall work-face. For coal seams that are thicker than 4.5 meters, we add a caving method to the fully mechanized longwall mining operation, whereby coal beyond the reach of our shearers collapse in a controlled manner as the coal support under it is removed and are collected by conveyers positioned behind the roof supports. Coal is then transported away from a longwall work-face by a series of conveyors located before and behind the system of hydraulic roof supports. Roof supports provide continuous support and coverage along the length of the work-face and also facilitate the advancement of the conveyors and shearers with the use of horizontal hydraulic rams positioned at the base of each support. Our hydraulic roof supports are manufactured in China.

The shaft hoist system equipment that we use at most of our mines is imported. Coal is transported from the coal shaft either to a surface storage or directly to a coal preparation plant. In addition to the main coal shaft, each mine also has a service shaft, which is used by workers or to transport equipment throughout the underground mines. There are also supplemental roadways and rail systems in the mines that provide a means of underground transportation for workers and equipment.

After raw coal is carried to the surface, it undergoes a mechanized selection process that separates coal from other mineral materials. A small portion of such selected coal is directly sold to customers as raw coal, and the remainder is transported to our coal preparation plants for further processing and classification. Each of the Six Coal Mines and Austar Coal Mine has a coal preparation plant. In general, the coal-washing conducted in our coal preparation plants include a water bed washing and separation process by jig machines, a sink-and-float separation process and a final floating separation process. Most of the equipment used in our coal preparation plants is automated, enabling our personnel to exercise precise control over the ash content and grade of our processed coal. The aggregate recovery rate of our coal preparation plants was 72.9%75.9%, 75.9%78.4% and 78.4%66.6% in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively.

Materials, Water and Energy Supply

The primary materials we use to conduct our coal mining and processing operations are: (i) steel to support work-faces and underground tunnels; (ii) cement for the construction of underground tunnels and ground structures; and (iii) water used in our production process. We source ourprocure steel principally from Anhui Maanshan Iron & Steel Co. LtdLtd., Laiwu Iron & Steel Group Corp. Ltd., and JinanShandong Shiheng Special Steel HoldingsGroup Co., Ltd. We source our cement from Shandong Lucheng Cement Company, Ltd. and Taishan Cement Works. We procure water principallyprimarily from the Controlling ShareholderYankuang Group pursuant to the Materials and Services Supply Agreement and its supplemental agreements.agreements, and to a lesser extent, from local water companies. The price of materials is set at market rates or determined through negotiation. We believe that we have well-established, cooperative relationships with our suppliers, enabling us to secure reliable supplies of materials required in our production process. We believe that a number of alternative suppliers exist for our key materials in our coal operations, and, therefore, we do not foresee any difficulty in obtaining adequate supplies of key materials.supplies.

In 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, purchases from our largest supplier accounted for approximately 1.8%3.3%, 3.3%3.8% and 3.8%0.7%, respectively, of our total cost of sales and service provided. In the same periods, 7.5%6.6%, 6.6%8.4% and 8.4%2.7%, respectively, of our total cost of sales were attributable to purchases from our five largest suppliers.

We use significant amounts of electricity in our operations. Electricity prices in China are regulated by the government. Our total electricity costs amounted to RMB291.6 million, RMB345.2 million, and RMB387.5 million and RMB373.0 million in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively. WeEven though we have not experienced any material disruption indisruptions to our electricity supply in the past three years.years, we acquired a 74% equity interest in Hua Ju Energy to reduce our electricity costs and number of connected transactions.

Our costs for materials, water and electricity supplies amounted to RMB2,068.6 million in 2008, representing a increase of RMB430.2 million, or 26.3%, from RMB1,638.4 million in 2007, representing a decrease of RMB41.8 million, or 2.5%, from RMB1,680.2 million in 2006.

2007.

Quality Control

Coal ProductionProducts

In each of our coal mines located within the PRC, we have implemented a quality assurance program pursuant to which we closely control quality throughout the production and transportation of our coal. Utilizing advanced processing technology and management techniques, our coal preparation plants are able to separate both metal impurities, such as blasting caps, and non-metal impurities, such as scraps of wood and plastic, from coal. Our sales and marketing department has a quality inspection division, which conducts spot inspections on our coal with the objective to improve quality.

Nantun Coal Mine, Xinglongzhuang Coal Mine, Baodian Coal Mine, Dongtan Coal Mine, Jining II Coal Mine and Jining III Coal Mine and Tianchi Coal Mine have all obtained ISO 9002 quality and ISO 14000 environmental management certification. Tianchi Coal Mine has obtained ISO 9000 quality and ISO 14000 environmental management certification.

Yancoal Australia has hired CCI Australia Pty Ltd. to supervise and inspect the quality of the coal produced from the mining operations of Austar Coal Mine to ensure quality control and improve quality.

Railway AssetsTransportation Services

We continually endeavor to improve the quality of our railway network to meet the quality of our coal production. Our Company has obtained ISO 9001 quality accreditation, ISO 14001 environmental management certification and GB/T19022-2003 management certificate for the operation of our Railway Assets.

Safety Control

We have implemented a safety control program based on our specific requirements and in compliance with the Coal Law, the National Mining Safety Law and other safety regulations promulgated by relevant governing authorities. The compensation of the officers and managers of each division reflects the division’s safety record. Each of our mines has a safety inspection unit which is responsible for the supervision and inspection of our mining activities. We also use the Controlling Shareholder’s safety training center to provide systematic training to our personnel. We reward employees who report potential unsafe conditions to encourage proactive prevention of accidents.

As a result of our safety control program, we have been able to maintain a solid safety record. Our workers’ fatality rate per million tonnes of raw coal produced was 0.087 in 2005 andfell to 0.11 in 2006. In 2007 and 2008, we did not have any fatalities.

Environmental Protection

We are subject to PRC environmental protection laws and regulations which impose fees for the discharge of waste material and fine severe polluters. In addition PRC regulations authorize government agencies to close any facility that fails to comply with orders to cease, or bring into compliance with relevant laws and regulations, operations that cause environmental damage. In addition, Yancoal Australia’s operation in Australia is compliant with relevant Australian environmental protection laws and regulations.

According to the Provision of Labor and Services Supply Agreement that we entered into with the Controlling Shareholder, it will provide us environmental protection services. In 2008, we paid the Controlling Shareholder a total of RMB26.7 million for environmental protection services to reduce the effects of our fatality rate reached zero.operations on the environment.

Competition

Coal Production

The PRC coal industry is characterized by a large number of small scale enterprises and the wide geographical distribution of coal reserves. However, there are relatively few large scale coal production enterprises. Statistics from the China Coal Industry Association show that, in 2008, the PRC coal industry had:

43 coal mining entities with a production capacity that exceeded 10.0 million tonnes, which collectively produced approximately 1,282.9 million tonnes of coal and accounted for 47.7% of national production;

13 coal mining entities with a production capacity that exceeded 30.0 million tonnes, which collectively produced approximately 835.1 million tonnes of coal and accounted for 31.0% of national production;

six coal mining entities with a production capacity that exceeded 50.0 million tonnes, which collectively produced approximately 582.8 million tonnes of coal and accounted for 21.7% of national production; and

only Shenhua Group Corporation and China Coal Group had a production capacity that exceeded 100.0 million tonnes, which collectively produced approximately 340.7 million tonnes of coal, which accounted for 12.7% of national production.

The table below sets forth the top ten coal production enterprises in the PRC by production volume in 2008:

   Raw coal production
(in million tonnes)
  Percentage of the total
raw coal production in
the PRC
 
      (%) 

Shenhua Group Corporation

  235.7  8.8

China Coal Group

  105.0  3.9

Shanxi Coking Coal Group Company

  72.4  2.7

Datong Coal Mining Group Company

  65.5  2.4

Heilongjiang Longmei Mining (Group) Co. Ltd.

  54.0  2.0

Shaanxi Coal and Chemical Industry Group Co., Ltd.

  50.3  1.9

Huainan Mining Group Co.

  42.0  1.6

Yankuang Coal Group Corporation Limited(1)

  39.7  1.5

PingDingShan Coal Group Co.

  37.4  1.4

Lu’an Coal Mining Group

  37.2  1.4
       

Total

  739.2  27.6
       

Source: China Coal Industry Association

(1)We contributed over 90% of the raw coal production of our Parent Company, Yankuang Coal Group.

Our primary market, the PRC domestic coal market is characterized by a significant number of coal suppliers and the absence of a dominant nationwide supplier. The domestic coal market is segmented principally by geographical region, as a result of the significant costs associated with transporting coal and customers’ coal quality requirements, which are categorized by ash and sulfur content levels, calorific value and the extent and quality of washing or processing. We compete principally on the basis of the availability and costs of transportation, coal quality and reliability of delivery.

Our domestic competitors primarily include a number of coal mines located in Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Certain of our competitors from these regions have substantial reserves and favorable geological conditions. However, these competitors incur significant transportation costs when they supply to end-user customers located in Eastern China. In addition to coal mines located in Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, we also compete to a certain extent with local mines located in proximity to our customers.

We export coal to several countries in East Asia, including Japan and Korea. These countries have high energy consumption levels but limited coal reserves, creating a significant dependence on imported coal. With respect to export sales, we compete with certain major overseas coal mining companies, most of which are located in Australia and Indonesia.

Railway Transportation Services

Our railway network connects us to the national railway system, such as Jinghu railway and Yanshi railway, and provides us access to Zouxian Power Plant, our largest end-user customer. We use our railway network to provide railway transportation services for our own internal use as well as to the Controlling Shareholder and other customers. We do not face significant competition from other railway operators. However, we may compete with other ground transportation services that serve the same region as our railway network.

Seasonality

Our coal business segment is not affected by seasonality.

Methanol and Electric Power

Our methanol and electric power business was represented by the activities of Yulin Nenghua and Tianhao Chemicals. The main product for our coal-related chemical operations is methanol, a liquid commodity that can be produced from coal or natural gas. Our methanol production is based on coke oven waste gas and coal. We commenced the production of methanol in September 2008 through Tianhao Chemicals. In 2008 Tianhao Chemicals produced 20,000 tonnes of methanol and sold 16,000 tonnes of the same for RMB38.6 million in revenue. Due to a key supplier’s closure, we temporarily suspended methanol production at Tianhao Chemicals in October 2008 and have not resumed production as of the date of this

annual report. Tianhao Chemical sustained an operating loss of RMB59.1 million in 2008, which represented approximately 0.2% of our revenue in 2008, which did not have a material impact on our results of operation. In December 2008, we also commenced trial operations at our Yulin Nenghua methanol plant, which also has a power plant at its facilities. Yulin Nenghua did not sell any methanol in 2008.

Both of these methanol plants have power plants, which we used to generate electricity and achieved RMB59.8 million in electric power sales in 2008. The supporting power plant at Tianhao Chemicals produced 70.38 million kWh and sold 68.74 million kWh of the same for RMB14.9 million in revenue. The power plant at Yulin Nenghua produced and sold 181.1 million kWh of electric power for RMB44.9 million in revenue. The power plants at Yulin Nenghua and Tianhao Chemicals have an aggregate installed capacity of 84 MW.

Sales and Marketing

Our sales in 2008 were made pursuant to sales contracts of methanol which we entered into from time to time with customers. We price our methanol based on prevailing market prices and market conditions, taking into consideration the creditworthiness of customers. We sold our methanol exclusively in the domestic market predominately to chemical plants in Northern and Eastern China. The power generated by our power plants was mainly for our own use and, to a lesser extent, sold to other end-users through regional power grids.

Product Pricing

The pricing of our methanol products is generally based on negotiation with our customers taking in consideration supply and demand and prevailing market prices. The pricing and adjustments for on-grid tariff are determined by the PRC Government.

Product Delivery

We transport methanol on the highways if Northern and Eastern China, where our customers are primarily located.

Production Process

Yulin Nenghua. We use coal as raw material to manufacture methanol at our Yulin Nenghua facility. The coal is first pulverized and cleaned, then fed to a gasifier bed where it reacts with oxygen and steam to produce the synthesis gas. The synthesis gas is, after sulfur tolerant reforming and low temperature methanol purification process, synthesized into crude methanol in a pipe-shell reactor and then purified by distillation.

Tianhao Chemical. We use coke oven waste gas as raw materials to manufacture methanol at our Tianhao Chemical facility. We reduce sulphur in coke oven through gas wet desulfurization and fine desulfurization procedures and then reform the coke-oven gas into synthesis gas, a mixture of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. The synthesis gas is synthesized into crude methanol in a pipe-shell reactor. The crude methanol is then recovered and purified by distillation.

Materials, Water and Energy Supply

Coal and coke oven waste gas are the primary materials in our methanol production. Production at Tianhao Chemicals is reliant on coke oven waste gas and gaseous raw material was transmitted to Tianhao Chemicals’ methanol plant through pipelines running from the plant’s only supplier of coke oven waste gas. This supplier ceased operations due to poor market conditions, and in turn, we suspended methanol production at Tianhao Chemicals since October 2008. As of the date of this annual report, we have not been able to find an alternative supplier.

The power plants of Hua Ju Energy generate electricity by recycling by-products of our coal mining operations, such as coal gangue and coal slurry. The coal-fired power plants at Tianhao Chemicals and Yulin Nenghua use thermal coal.

Quality Control

We have implemented a series of product analysis procedures and quality control measures for our methanol operations to ensure quality. Hua Ju Energy has also obtained ISO 9001 quality and ISO 14001 environmental management certification. We have also scheduled periodic overhauls and regular maintenance of our methanol and power plants.

Safety Control

For our methanol operations, we have implemented safety control measures in compliance with the People’s Republic of China Production Safety Law, the People’s Republic of China Regulations on the Safety Administration of Dangerous Chemicals and other safety guidelines for chemical manufacturers. Safety measures for our electric power operations were designed to meet the requirement of the Electricity Law.

Competition

We compete with domestic methanol manufacturers in Shanxi and Shaanxi Provinces and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. We expect to benefit from economies of scale after Yulin Nenghua’s 600,000 tonne methanol project commences commercial operations and achieves full utilization of its capacity.

Seasonality

Our methanol and electric power operations are not affected by seasonality.

Regulatory Overview

Coal Industry — PRC Regulatory Matters

To establish a coal mining enterprise under the Coal Law of the PRC (the “Coal Law”), the applicant must submit an application to the relevant department in charge of the coal industry. After obtaining approval to establish a coal mining enterprise, the applicant will be granted a mining permit by the Ministry of Land and Resources. Thereafter, the applicant must obtain a coal production permit before it commences coal production. Coal mining enterprises which have legally obtained coal production licenses shall have the right to sell coal that they produce. For establishment of a coal trading enterprise, an applicant must apply for a different business license and may engage in coal trading only after it obtains a trading license from the administrative department of industry and commerce.

Mining activities in the PRC are also subject to the Mineral Resources Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “Mineral Resources Law”). The Mineral Resources Law regulates any matters relating to the planning or the exploration, exploitation and mining of mineral resources. According to the Mineral Resources Law, all mineral resources in China, including coal, are owned by the State. Any enterprise planning to engage in the exploration, development and mining of mineral resources must obtain exploration rights and mining rights before commencing the relevant activities. The transfer of exploration and exploitation rights shall be subject to governmental approval pursuant to the Coal Law, the Mineral Resources Law and other relevant regulations.

We are principally subject to the supervision and regulation by the following agencies of the PRC Government:

the State Council, the highest level of the executive branch, which is responsible for the examination and approval of major investment projects specified in the Catalogue of Investment Projects released by the PRC Government in 2004;

the National Development and Reform Commission, or NDRC, which formulates and implements major policies concerning China’s economic and social development, examines and approves investment projects exceeding certain capital expenditure amounts or in specified industry sectors, including the examination and approval of foreign investment projects and formulates industrial policies and investment guidelines for natural resource industries, such as the coal industry. In addition, the NDRC administers

coal export activities and export quotas jointly with the Ministry of Commerce. The NDRC is also responsible for the evaluation and implementation of the pricing mechanism that links the prices of coal and power;

the Ministry of Land and Resources (“MLR”), which has the authority to grant land use licenses and mining right permits, approve the transfer and lease of mining rights, and review the transfer price of mining rights and reserve estimates;

the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety (“SACMS”), which is responsible for the implementation and supervision of the relevant safety laws and regulations applicable to coal mines and coal mining operations;

the Ministry of Railways (“MOR”), which supervises China’s railway operations and provides strategic development plans for railway transportation. The MOR, together with the NDRC, reviews all applications for railway construction plans, including railways designated or used for coal transportation; and

the State Environmental Protection Administration of China (“SEPA”), which supervises and controls environmental protection and monitors China’s environmental system at the national level.

The following is a summary of the principal laws, regulations, policies and administrative directives to which we are subject.

Pricing

Until 2002, the production and pricing of coal have generally been subject to close control and supervision by the PRC Government, which centrally manages the production and pricing of coal. To transition from a planned economy to market economy practices, the PRC Government eliminated state guideline for coal prices on January 1, 2002 and aimed to establish pricing mechanism that reflect market demand.

Under the Price Law of the People’s Republic of China, the PRC Government reserves the right to intervene in price fluctuations of important commodities such as coal. The State Council and the provincial governments, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the PRC Government may adopt intervention measures, such as restricting margins or profits, and imposing price limits. Since 2002, NDRC has executed temporary measures several times to prevent and control unusual fluctuations in thermal coal prices.

To ensure the stable supply of thermal coal and reduce pricing pressure on electric power companies, NDRC issued Announcement No. 46 on June 19, 2008 to implement, from such date until December 31, 2008, temporary price caps on thermal coal. On December 3, 2008, NDRC issued the Notice Relating to the Good Preparation for Inter Provincial Coal Production Transportation Works (Fa Gai Yun Xing [2008] No. 3294), which announced the elimination of the price control measures implemented in June 2008. On December 30, 2008, NDRC issued an announcement (No. 67) to abolish the temporary price intervention measures on thermal coal, which became effective on January 1, 2009.

Currently, major domestic coal suppliers and coal purchasers attend the Annual National Coal Trading Convention to negotiate and discuss the price and volume of coal to be supplied and purchased for the coming year through the signing of letters of intent and short and long-term supply contracts.

Fees and Taxes

The table below sets forth material taxes and fees that are imposed upon coal producers in China, as well as reserves which we are required to set aside.

Item

Base

Rate

Corporate income taxTaxable income25%
VATSale Revenue17%
Business taxRevenue from service3% or 5%
City construction taxAmount of VAT and business tax5% to 7%
Education surchargeAmount of VAT and business tax3%
Local education surchargeAmount of VAT and business tax1%
Resource tax

Aggregate volume of raw coal sold or used(1)

RMB3.6 per tonne

(Shandong Province)

RMB3.2 per tonne

(Shanxi Province)

Compensation for the depletion of coal resources

Proceeds from coal sales1%
Price adjustment fundVolume of raw coal produced

Jining city, Shandong Province

RMB8 per tonne

(1)The resource tax applicable to our coal operation in Shandong and Shanxi Provinces is calculated by multiplying the aggregate volume of raw coal sold and raw coal consumed in the production of clean coal by the applicable per tonne resource tax in the respective province.

Coal producers may be fined if they damage the environment, arable land, grasslands or forest areas. Under the Mineral Resources Law, if a mining enterprise’s mining activities results in damage to arable land, grasslands or forest areas, the mining enterprise must return the land to an arable state or plant trees or grass or take other restorative measures. The Mineral Resources Law and other applicable laws and regulations also state that anyone who causes others to suffer loss in terms of production or living standards is liable for the loss and must compensate the affected persons and remedy the situation.

Additionally, all coal producers are subject to PRC environmental protection laws and regulations which currently impose fees for the discharge of waste substances, require the payment of fines for serious pollution and provide for the discretion of the PRC Government to close any facility which fails to comply with orders requiring it to cease or cure operations causing environmental damage.

Imports and Exports

According to the Foreign Trade Law, the Cargo Import and Export Ordinance and the Administrative Measures of Coal Export Quota, coal exports remain subject to State control and require governmental approval.

Our company has not been authorized as a PRC coal exporter. Our coal export is conducted through three export agent including China Coal Energy Group Company, China Minmetals Corporation and Shanxi Coal Import and Export Group Company.

Pursuant to the Administrative Measures of Coal Export Quota, the NDRC and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for determining China’s national coal export quota and allocating the quota among authorized coal exporters. Upon receiving a quota approval, authorized coal exporters may apply for coal export permits to the relevant authority designated by the MOFCOM. Authorized coal exporters are also required to report their monthly quota usage to the NDRC.

The regulations provide that quotas may be adjusted in the event of:

a major change in the international market;

a major change in domestic coal resources;

an imbalance in the usage of the coal export quota by an authorized coal exporter compared to its allocation of the coal export quota; and

other circumstances which require an adjustment to the coal export quotas.

The total national quota approved for 2007, 2008 was 70 million and 53 million, respectively, and the 2009 quota is 26 million tonnes.

The PRC Government VAT refund has been abolished since 2006 under the Notice of Taxation on Adjusting the Tax Refund Rates of Certain Commodities and Supplementing the Catalogue of Prohibited Commodities in Processing Trade, which was promulgated jointly by the Ministry of Finance, NDRC, Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs, and State Administration of Taxation.

According to the Notice of the Customs Tariff Committee of the State Council on Revising the Tariff Rates on the Export of Aluminium Alloy, Coke and Coal (Shui Wei Hui 2008 No. 25), beginning August 20, 2008, the provisional tariff rate of coke, coking coal and soft coal will be 40%, 10%, and10% respectively. Export tariffs are generally passed to the purchaser. Therefore, changes in export tariffs do not directly affect us.

Domestic Trading of Coal

Pursuant to the Measures for the Regulation of Coal Operations promulgated by the NDRC on December 27, 2004, the State implemented a system to examine the qualifications of an entity to engage in coal operations, including the wholesale and retail of raw coal and processed coal products and the processing and distribution of coal for civilian use. Before an entity can engage in coal operations, it must obtain a coal operation qualification certificate. A coal production enterprise that deals in coal products produced and processed by a third party is required to obtain a coal operation qualification.

Environmental ProtectionRegulatory Overview

Coal Industry — PRC Regulatory Matters

To establish a coal mining enterprise under the Coal Law of the PRC (the “Coal Law”), the applicant must submit an application to the relevant department in charge of the coal industry. After obtaining approval to establish a coal mining enterprise, the applicant will be granted a mining permit by the Ministry of Land and Resources. Thereafter, the applicant must obtain a coal production permit before it commences coal production. Coal mining enterprises which have legally obtained coal production licenses shall have the right to sell coal that they produce. For establishment of a coal trading enterprise, an applicant must apply for a different business license and may engage in coal trading only after it obtains a trading license from the administrative department of industry and commerce.

Mining activities in the PRC are also subject to the Mineral Resources Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “Mineral Resources Law”). The Mineral Resources Law regulates any matters relating to the planning or the exploration, exploitation and mining of mineral resources. According to the Mineral Resources Law, all mineral resources in China, including coal, are owned by the State. Any enterprise planning to engage in the exploration, development and mining of mineral resources must obtain exploration rights and mining rights before commencing the relevant activities. The transfer of exploration and exploitation rights shall be subject to governmental approval pursuant to the Coal Law, the Mineral Resources Law and other relevant regulations.

We are principally subject to the supervision and regulation by the following agencies of the PRC Government:

the State Council, the highest level of the executive branch, which is responsible for the examination and approval of major investment projects specified in the Catalogue of Investment Projects released by the PRC Government in 2004;

the National Development and Reform Commission, or NDRC, which formulates and implements major policies concerning China’s economic and social development, examines and approves investment projects exceeding certain capital expenditure amounts or in specified industry sectors, including the examination and approval of foreign investment projects and formulates industrial policies and investment guidelines for natural resource industries, such as the coal industry. In addition, the NDRC administers

coal export activities and export quotas jointly with the Ministry of Commerce. The NDRC is also responsible for the evaluation and implementation of the pricing mechanism that links the prices of coal and power;

the Ministry of Land and Resources (“MLR”), which has the authority to grant land use licenses and mining right permits, approve the transfer and lease of mining rights, and review the transfer price of mining rights and reserve estimates;

the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety (“SACMS”), which is responsible for the implementation and supervision of the relevant safety laws and regulations applicable to coal mines and coal mining operations;

the Ministry of Railways (“MOR”), which supervises China’s railway operations and provides strategic development plans for railway transportation. The MOR, together with the NDRC, reviews all applications for railway construction plans, including railways designated or used for coal transportation; and

the State Environmental Protection Administration of China (“SEPA”), which supervises and controls environmental protection and monitors China’s environmental system at the national level.

The following is a summary of the principal laws, regulations, policies and administrative directives to which we are subject.

Pricing

Until 2002, the production and pricing of coal have generally been subject to close control and supervision by the PRC Government, which centrally manages the production and pricing of coal. To transition from a planned economy to market economy practices, the PRC Government eliminated state guideline for coal prices on January 1, 2002 and aimed to establish pricing mechanism that reflect market demand.

Under the Price Law of the People’s Republic of China, the PRC Government reserves the right to intervene in price fluctuations of important commodities such as coal. The State Council and the provincial governments, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the PRC Government may adopt intervention measures, such as restricting margins or profits, and imposing price limits. Since 2002, NDRC has executed temporary measures several times to prevent and control unusual fluctuations in thermal coal prices.

To ensure the stable supply of thermal coal and reduce pricing pressure on electric power companies, NDRC issued Announcement No. 46 on June 19, 2008 to implement, from such date until December 31, 2008, temporary price caps on thermal coal. On December 3, 2008, NDRC issued the Notice Relating to the Good Preparation for Inter Provincial Coal Production Transportation Works (Fa Gai Yun Xing [2008] No. 3294), which announced the elimination of the price control measures implemented in June 2008. On December 30, 2008, NDRC issued an announcement (No. 67) to abolish the temporary price intervention measures on thermal coal, which became effective on January 1, 2009.

Currently, major domestic coal suppliers and coal purchasers attend the Annual National Coal Trading Convention to negotiate and discuss the price and volume of coal to be supplied and purchased for the coming year through the signing of letters of intent and short and long-term supply contracts.

Fees and Taxes

The table below sets forth material taxes and fees that are imposed upon coal producers in China, as well as reserves which we are required to set aside.

Item

Base

Rate

Corporate income taxTaxable income25%
VATSale Revenue17%
Business taxRevenue from service3% or 5%
City construction taxAmount of VAT and business tax5% to 7%
Education surchargeAmount of VAT and business tax3%
Local education surchargeAmount of VAT and business tax1%
Resource tax

Aggregate volume of raw coal sold or used(1)

RMB3.6 per tonne

(Shandong Province)

RMB3.2 per tonne

(Shanxi Province)

Compensation for the depletion of coal resources

Proceeds from coal sales1%
Price adjustment fundVolume of raw coal produced

Jining city, Shandong Province

RMB8 per tonne

(1)The resource tax applicable to our coal operation in Shandong and Shanxi Provinces is calculated by multiplying the aggregate volume of raw coal sold and raw coal consumed in the production of clean coal by the applicable per tonne resource tax in the respective province.

Coal producers may be fined if they damage the environment, arable land, grasslands or forest areas. Under the Mineral Resources Law, if a mining enterprise’s mining activities results in damage to arable land, grasslands or forest areas, the mining enterprise must return the land to an arable state or plant trees or grass or take other restorative measures. The Mineral Resources Law and other applicable laws and regulations also state that anyone who causes others to suffer loss in terms of production or living standards is liable for the loss and must compensate the affected persons and remedy the situation.

Additionally, all coal producers are subject to PRC environmental protection laws and regulations which currently impose fees for the discharge of waste materialsubstances, require the payment of fines for serious pollution and fines on severe polluters and authorizeprovide for the discretion of the PRC Government to close any facility which fails to comply with orders requiring it to cease or bring into compliance with relevant laws and regulationscure operations causing environmental damage. We believe all of our facilities are in compliance with the requirements of the relevant PRC environmental protection laws

Imports and regulations. In addition, Yancoal Australia’s operation in Australia is compliant with relevant Australian environmental protection laws and regulations.Exports

According to the laborForeign Trade Law, the Cargo Import and services agreement approved by our shareholders,Export Ordinance and the Controlling Shareholder will provide environmental servicesAdministrative Measures of Coal Export Quota, coal exports remain subject to us. In 2007, we paid the Controlling ShareholderState control and require governmental approval.

Our company has not been authorized as a total of RMB26.7 million for environmental protection services to reduce the effects of our operations on the environment.

Insurance

In accordance with what we believe is the customary practice among PRC coal mining entities, we do not maintain fire, casualty or other property insuranceexporter. Our coal export is conducted through three export agent including China Coal Energy Group Company, China Minmetals Corporation and Shanxi Coal Import and Export Group Company.

Pursuant to cover our properties, equipment or inventory other thanthe Administrative Measures of Coal Export Quota, the NDRC and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for our vehicles. In addition, we do not maintain any business interruption insurance or any third party liability insurancedetermining China’s national coal export quota and allocating the quota among authorized coal exporters. Upon receiving a quota approval, authorized coal exporters may apply for coal export permits to cover claims in respect of personal injury, property or environmental damage arising from accidents on our properties or relatingthe relevant authority designated by the MOFCOM. Authorized coal exporters are also required to our operations, other than

third party liability insurance with respectreport their monthly quota usage to our vehicles. We do not maintain any insurance policy to cover our railway network or its operation. We have, in accordance with relevant laws, set aside approximately 2.0% of each employee’s total remuneration for personal injury insurance and currently maintain personal injury insurance for our employees.

Competition

Coal Productionthe NDRC.

The PRC coal industry is characterized by a large number of small scale enterprises andregulations provide that quotas may be adjusted in the wide geographical distribution of coal reserves. However, there are relatively few large scale coal production enterprises. Statistics from the China Coal Industry Association show that, in 2006, the PRC coal industry had:event of:

 

32 coal mining entities with a production capacity that exceeded 10.0 million tonnes, which collectively produced approximately 1,028.0 million tonnes of coal and accounted for 44.2% of national production;major change in the international market;

 

12a major change in domestic coal mining entities with a production capacity that exceeded 30.0 million tonnes, which collectively produced approximately 717.0 million tonnes of coal and accounted for 31.0% of national production;resources;

 

fivean imbalance in the usage of the coal mining entities with a production capacity that exceeded 50.0 million tonnes, which collectively produced approximately 479.0 million tonnesexport quota by an authorized coal exporter compared to its allocation of the coal and accounted for 21% of national production;export quota; and

 

only Shenhua Group Corporation hadother circumstances which require an adjustment to the coal export quotas.

The total national quota approved for 2007, 2008 was 70 million and 53 million, respectively, and the 2009 quota is 26 million tonnes.

The PRC Government VAT refund has been abolished since 2006 under the Notice of Taxation on Adjusting the Tax Refund Rates of Certain Commodities and Supplementing the Catalogue of Prohibited Commodities in Processing Trade, which was promulgated jointly by the Ministry of Finance, NDRC, Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs, and State Administration of Taxation.

According to the Notice of the Customs Tariff Committee of the State Council on Revising the Tariff Rates on the Export of Aluminium Alloy, Coke and Coal (Shui Wei Hui 2008 No. 25), beginning August 20, 2008, the provisional tariff rate of coke, coking coal and soft coal will be 40%, 10%, and10% respectively. Export tariffs are generally passed to the purchaser. Therefore, changes in export tariffs do not directly affect us.

Domestic Trading of Coal

Pursuant to the Measures for the Regulation of Coal Operations promulgated by the NDRC on December 27, 2004, the State implemented a production capacity that exceeded 100.0 million tonnes, at 203 million tonnessystem to examine the qualifications of an entity to engage in coal operations, including the wholesale and retail of raw coal and processed coal products and the processing and distribution of coal which accounted for 8.7% of national production.

The table below sets forth the top tencivilian use. Before an entity can engage in coal operations, it must obtain a coal operation qualification certificate. A coal production enterprisesenterprise that deals in the PRC by production volume in 2006:

   Raw coal
production

(in million tonnes)
  Percentage of the total
raw coal production
in the PRC
 
      (%) 

Shenhua Group Corporation

  203.0  8.5%

China Coal Group

  90.6  3.8%

Shanxi Coking Coal Group Company

  70.0  2.9%

Datong Coal Mining Group Company

  61.8  2.6%

Heilongjiang Longmei Mining (Group) Co. Ltd.

  53.7  2.3%

Xiamei Group Corporation

  38.7  1.6%

Our Company

  36.1  1.5%

Yangquan Coal Group Co.

  35.4  1.5%

Huainan Mining Group Co.

  33.5  1.4%

Lu’an Coal Mining Group

  31.6  1.3%
       

Total

  654.4  27.5%
       

Source: China Coal Industry Association

We principally compete in two markets: the PRC domestic marketcoal products produced and the East Asian market. The PRC domestic coal market is characterizedprocessed by a significant number ofthird party is required to obtain a coal suppliers and the absence of a dominant nationwide supplier. The domestic coal market is segmented principally by: (i) geographical region, as a result of the significant costs associated with transporting coal and (ii) coal quality, which is categorized by ash and sulfur content levels, calorific value and the extent and quality of washing or processing. We compete principally on the basis of the availability and costs of transportation, coal quality and reliability of delivery.

Our domestic competitors primarily include a number of coal mines located in Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. Certain of our competitors from these

regions have substantial reserves and favorable geological conditions. However, these competitors incur significant transportation costs when they supply to end-user customers located in Eastern China. In addition to coal mines located in Shanxi Province, Shaanxi Province and Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, we also compete to a certain extent with local mines located in proximity to our customers.

Coal mining companies that supply to power plants generally have long-term, well-established relationships with their customers. PRC power plants typically specify their future coal suppliers in their feasibility studies and customize the design of their power generation equipment to use the type and quality of coal produced by their selected suppliers. A power plant that changes one of its coal suppliers will have to bear the costs and risks associated with modifying its power generation equipment to operate using the new supplier’s coal.

We export coal to several countries in East Asia, including Japan and Korea. These countries have high energy consumption levels but limited coal reserves, creating a significant demand for imported coal. With respect to export sales, we compete with certain major overseas coal mining companies, most of which are located in Australia and Indonesia.

Railway Operation

Our railway network connects us to the national railway system and provides us access to Zouxian Power Plant, our largest end-user customer. We use our railway network to provide railway transportation services for our own internal use as well as to the Controlling Shareholder and other customers. We do not face significant competition from other railway operators. However, we may compete with other surface transportation services that can service the same region as our railway network.operation qualification.

Seasonality

Our business operation is not affected by seasonality.

Regulatory Overview

Coal Industry — PRC Regulatory Matters

To establish a coal mining enterprise under the Coal Law

On August 29, 1996, of the PRC Government promulgated the People’s Republic of China Coal Law (the “Coal Law”), which became effective on December 1, 1996. The Coal Law sets forth requirements for the operation of all coal mines, including state-owned mines and privately owned mines, which regulates resource exploitation planning, new mine approvals, mining and work safety permits, safety standards, coal processing, business management, sustainable use of mine areas and worker safety and administrative supervision.

According to the Coal Law, entities seeking to establish mining enterprisesapplicant must applysubmit an application to the relevant government office and obtain all necessary approvals. Thedepartment in charge of the coal industry. After obtaining approval to establish a coal mining enterprise, the applicant will be granted a mining permit by the Ministry of Land and Resources will grant anResources. Thereafter, the applicant entity a mining permit upon approving its application. Thereafter, an entity must obtain a coal production permit and a coal operation permit and other related quality permits before it commences coal production. Coal mining enterprises which have legally obtained coal production licenses shall have the right to sell coal that they produce. For establishment of a coal trading enterprise, an applicant must apply for a different business license and may engage in coal trading only after it obtains a trading license from the domestic saleadministrative department of coal. The PRC Government is in the process of amending the Coal Law, to improve the coordination of the national development plan for coal miningindustry and utilization of coal resources as well as to address the need for effective penalties or to strengthen enforcement of existing provisions in the Coal Law.commerce.

Mining activities in the PRC are also subject to the Mineral Resources Law of the People’s Republic of China Mineral Resources Law (“Mineral(the “Mineral Resources Law”), which was promulgated by the PRC Government on March 19, 1986 and amended on August 29, 1996.. The Mineral Resources Law regulates any matters relating to the planning or the exploration, exploitation and mining of mineral resources. According to the Mineral Resources Law, all mineral resources in China, including coal, are owned by the State. Except under limited circumstances, anyAny enterprise planning to engage in the exploration, development and mining of mineral resources must first apply for and obtain exploration rights and mining rights before commencing the relevant activities. The Mineral Resources Law generally prohibits the transfer of exploration and exploitation rights except under limited circumstances.shall be subject to governmental approval pursuant to the Coal Law, the Mineral Resources Law and other relevant regulations.

We are principally subject to the supervision and regulation by the following agencies of the PRC Government:

 

the State Council, the highest level of the executive branch, which is responsible for the examination and approval of major investment projects specified in the Catalogue of Investment Projects released by the PRC Government in 2004;

 

the National Development and Reform Commission, or NDRC, which formulates and implements major policies concerning China’s economic and social development, examines and approves investment projects exceeding certain capital expenditure amounts or in specified industry sectors, including the examination and approval of foreign investment projects and formulates industrial policies and investment guidelines for natural resource industries, such as the coal industry. In addition, the NDRC administers coal export activities and export quotas jointly with the Ministry of Commerce. The NDRC is also responsible for the evaluation and implementation of the pricing mechanism that links the prices of coal and power;

coal export activities and export quotas jointly with the Ministry of Commerce. The NDRC is also responsible for the evaluation and implementation of the pricing mechanism that links the prices of coal and power;

 

the Ministry of Land and Resources (“MLR”), which has the authority to grant land use licenses and mining right permits, approve the transfer and lease of mining rights, and review the transfer price of mining rights and reserve estimates;

 

the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety (“SACMS”), which is responsible for the implementation and supervision of the relevant safety laws and regulations applicable to coal mines and coal mining operations;

 

the Ministry of Railways (“MOR”), which supervises China’s railway operations and provides strategic development plans for railway transportation. The MOR, together with the NDRC, reviews all applications for railway construction plans, including railways designated or used for coal transportation; and

 

the State Environmental Protection Administration of China (“SEPA”), which supervises and controls environmental protection and monitors China’s environmental system at the national level.

The following is a summary of the principal laws, regulations, policies and administrative directives to which we are subject.

Pricing

Until 2002, the production and pricing of coal have generally been subject to close control and supervision by the PRC Government, which centrally manages the production and pricing of coal. Previously, the price of coal was determined based on a government-devised pricing guideline which sets out suggested prices for coal. To effectuate the transformationtransition from a planned economy to market economy practices, the PRC Government eliminated the state guideline prices for coal prices on January 1, 2002 and allowed theaimed to establish pricing for all types of coal to be determined in accordance withmechanism that reflect market demand. However, as the PRC Government continues to maintain control over the national railway system, which is the primary means to transport coal in China, the PRC Government may continue to exert influence over the pricing of coal through its allocation of railway transportation capacity for coal.

However, underUnder the Price Law of the People’s Republic of China, promulgated on December 29, 1997, effective beginning May 1, 1998, the PRC Government reservedreserves the right to intervene in the event of an actual increase or potential increase in the pricesprice fluctuations of important productscommodities such as coal. The State Council and the provincial governments, autonomous regions and municipalities directly under the PRC Government may adopt intervention measures, such as restricting the ratio of price differentialsmargins or of profits, and imposing price limits, etc. In August 2004,limits. Since 2002, NDRC has executed temporary measures several times to prevent and control unusual fluctuations in thermal coal prices.

To ensure the stable supply of thermal coal and reduce pricing pressure on electric power companies, NDRC issued a notice setting forthAnnouncement No. 46 on June 19, 2008 to implement, from such date until December 31, 2008, temporary price caps on thermal coal. On December 3, 2008, NDRC issued the Notice Relating to the Good Preparation for Inter Provincial Coal Production Transportation Works (Fa Gai Yun Xing [2008] No. 3294), which announced the elimination of the price control measures implemented in June 2008. On December 30, 2008, NDRC issued an announcement (No. 67) to be imposedabolish the temporary price intervention measures on thermal coal, prices for certain regions. In December 2004, the NDRC issued a notice setting forth guidelines for pricing of thermal coal sales in 2005. Under these guidelines, coal suppliers and their customers may not negotiate for the sale of coal at prices beyond the government suggested price range.

which became effective on January 1, 2009.

Similar to coal pricing, the production and supply of coal, which is dictated by the PRC Government’s annual state coal allocation plan, has been gradually liberalized and largely determined by market forces. MajorCurrently, major domestic coal suppliers and coal purchasers attend the Annual National Coal Trading Convention to negotiate and discuss the price and quantityvolume of coal to be supplied and purchased for the coming year through the signing of letters of intent and short and long-term supply contracts.

On December 18, 2006, the National Development and Reform Committee issued the Notice Relating to the Good Preparation for Inter Provincial Coal Production Transportation Works (Fa Gai Yun Xing [2006] No. 2867). According to the notice, in 2007, policies should be implemented to encourage the reform of the market system for determining coal prices by allowing parties to negotiate prices in accordance with market demand and coal quality. On December 27, 2006, the relevant government departments and entities such as the National Development and Reform Committee for railway operations and Transportation Department convened for a 2007 coal industry video and telephone conference. This symbolized the end of the Annual National Coal Trading Convention that has been in place for over 50 years. On November 23, 2007, the NDRC promulgated the Coal Industry Policy, which promotes the use of market mechanisms to set coal prices and the establishment of fair trade rules.

Fees and Taxes

The table below sets forth material taxes and fees that are imposed upon coal producers in China, as well as reserves which we are required to set aside.

Item

  

Base

  

Rate

Corporate income tax

  Taxable income  25% , 15% or 7.5%

VAT

  Sale Revenue from domestic sales  13%17%
Revenue from export sales13%

Business tax

  Revenue from service  3% or 5%

City construction tax

  Amount of VAT and business tax  5% to 7%

Education surcharge

  Amount of VAT and business tax  3%

Local education surcharge

  Amount of VAT and business tax  1%

Resource tax

  

Aggregate volume of raw coal sold or used(1)

  

RMB3.6 per tonne (Shandong

(Shandong Province)

RMB3.2 per tonne (Shanxi

(Shanxi Province)

Compensation for the depletion of coal resources

  Proceeds from coal sales  1%

Future development pensionPrice adjustment fund

  Volume of raw coal produced  RMB6.5 to

Jining city, Shandong Province

RMB8 per tonne

Safety fund

Volume of raw coal producedRMB3 to RMB8 per tonne

Price adjustment fund

Volume of raw coal producedRMB8 per tonne

 

(1)The resource tax applicable to our coal operation in Shandong and Shanxi Provinces is calculated by multiplying the aggregate volume of raw coal sold and raw coal consumed in the production of clean coal by the applicable per tonne resource tax in the respective province.

Coal producers may be fined if they damage the environment, arable land, grasslands or forest areas. Under the Mineral Resources Law, if a mining enterprise’s mining activities results in damage to arable land, grasslands or forest areas, the mining enterprise must take effective measures to return the land to an arable state or plant trees or grass or take other measures to restore the area.restorative measures. The Mineral Resources Law and other applicable laws and regulations also state that anyone who causes others to suffer loss in terms of production or living standards is liable for the loss and must compensate the affected persons and remedy the situation. In addition, the Mineral Resources Law also provides for (i) regulations concerning labor safety and hygiene and (ii) environmental protection.

AllAdditionally, all coal producers are subject to PRC environmental protection laws and regulations which currently impose fees for the discharge of waste substances, require the payment of fines for serious pollution and provide for the discretion of the PRC Government to close any facility which fails to comply with orders requiring it to cease or cure operations causing environmental damage. All environmental protection facilities must be inspected and certified by relevant governmental authorities as being in compliance with PRC environmental protection laws and regulations.

Regulations Concerning Imports and Exports of Coal

InAccording to the PRC, the import and export of goods and technologies and the provision of international trade services are governed by the Foreign Trade Law, which was promulgated on May 12, 1994 and amended on April 6, 2004 and became effective, as amended, on July 1, 2004. Imports of coal into China are subject to import tariffs. Pursuant to China’s commitment under its World Trade Organization agreement, tariff rates for coal imports are expected to be reduced. Under the amended Foreign Trade Law, the Cargo Import and Export Ordinance and the Administrative Measures of Coal Export Quota, coal exports remain subject to State control and require governmental approval. Currently, there are only four

Our company has not been authorized as a PRC coal exporters, Shenhua Coal Trading Company Limited,exporter. Our coal export is conducted through three export agent including China Coal Energy Group Company, China National Minerals Import and Export Company LimitedMinmetals Corporation and Shanxi Coal Import and Export Group Company.

Pursuant to regulations promulgated in January 2004, China’s coal exports have been subject to government approval since July 1, 2004, under whichthe Administrative Measures of Coal Export Quota, the NDRC and the Ministry of Commerce are responsible for determining China’s national coal export quota and for allocating the quota among the authorized coal exporters. The total quota will take into consideration China’s economic needs, the proper use of coal resources, the PRC Government’s economic policy and the dynamics of the domestic and international coal markets. Each year, after the NDRC publishes the total coal export quota for the following year, authorized coal exporters are required to submit written applications for the following year’s quota to the NDRC. The NDRC and the Ministry of Commerce then allocate the annual quota for the following year among the authorized coal exporters. The quota of each year expires on December 31 and may not be carried over. Upon receiving a quota approval, authorized coal exporters may apply for coal export permits to the relevant authority designated by the MOFCOM. Authorized coal exporters are also required to report their monthly quota usage to the NDRC.

The regulations provide that quotas may be adjusted in the event of:

 

a major change in the international market;

 

a major change in domestic coal resources;

 

an imbalance in the usage of the coal export quota by an authorized coal exporter compared to its allocation of the coal export quota; and

 

other circumstances which require an adjustment to the coal export quotas.

The total national quota approved for 2006, 2007, and 2008 was 80 million, 70 million and 53 million, tonnes, respectively.respectively, and the 2009 quota is 26 million tonnes.

The PRC Government VAT refund has been completely abolished since September 15, 2006. 2006 under the Notice of Taxation on Adjusting the Tax Refund Rates of Certain Commodities and Supplementing the Catalogue of Prohibited Commodities in Processing Trade, which was promulgated jointly by the Ministry of Finance, NDRC, Ministry of Commerce, General Administration of Customs, and State Administration of Taxation.

According to the Notice of the Customs Tariff Committee of the State Council on Revising the Provisional Tariff Rates on the Import and Export of Certain Goods (Issued by the Customs Tariff Committee of the State Council as document ShuiAluminium Alloy, Coke and Coal (Shui Wei Hui 20072008 No. 8)25), from June 1, 2007,beginning August 20, 2008, the State will impose certain a 15%provisional tariff onrate of coke, products and a 10% tariff on tar products. This export tariff is not applicable to our exportedcoking coal and we were not requiredsoft coal will be 40%, 10%, and10% respectively. Export tariffs are generally passed to pay thisthe purchaser. Therefore, changes in export tariff. The state policy, therefore, doestariffs do not directly affect us.

Domestic Trading of Coal

Pursuant to the Measures for the Regulation of Coal Operations promulgated by the NDRC on December 27, 2004, the State implemented a system to examine the qualifications of aan entity to engage in coal operations, including the wholesale and retail of raw coal and processed coal products and the processing and distribution of coal for civilian use. Before an entity can engage in coal operations, it must obtain a coal operation qualification certificate. A coal production enterprise that deals in coal products produced and processed by a third party is required to obtain a coal operation qualification. An enterprise may not deal in coal products produced and/or processed by a coal mine enterprise that does not have a coal production permit. An enterprise is also prohibited from selling coal products to a coal operation enterprise that does not have coal operation qualifications.

Although the PRC Government indirectly influences coal prices through its broad regulation of electricity prices and control over the allocation of national railway transportation capacity, domestic coal prices have mainly been driven by the market since 2002, when the PRC Government eliminated

the price control measures for coal used in power generation. Prior to 2006, however, the PRC Government continued to implement temporary measures to prevent and control any unusual fluctuations in thermal coal prices. This, among other reasons, has caused thermal coal contract prices for major users to be generally lower than spot market prices during this period. On January 1, 2006, the NDRC announced the elimination of such temporary intervention practices on thermal coal prices, effectively removing national price controls on thermal coal, including contract prices major thermal coal users. However, a portion of our thermal coal sales may be affected by pricing guidelines announce by the PRC Government from time to time or subject to temporary price controls. See “Item 3. – D. Risk Factors – Our products may be subject to governmental price control measures, which may adversely affect our profitability.”

Environmental Protection Laws and Regulations

Pursuant to the Environmental Protection Law, the State Environmental Protection Administration is authorized to formulate national environmental quality and discharge standards and to monitor China’s environmental system at the national level to protect the environment. Environmental protection bureaus at the county level and above are responsible for environmental protection within their respective jurisdiction.

Environmental regulations require companies to file an environmental impact report with the relevant environmental authority for approval before undertaking the construction of a new production facility or any major expansion or renovation of an existing production facility. Once they are built, approved facilities may not commence operations until the relevant environmental authority has performed an inspection and has found that the facilities are in compliance with environmental standards.

Mining operations, including both open pit mines and underground mines, may adversely affect surface and underground land and cause water pollution, landslides and other types of environmental damage. To manage the adverse effects that the coal industry has on the environment, China has promulgated a series of laws and regulations. Through these laws and regulations, China has established national and local environmental protection legal frameworks and issued standards applicable to emission controls, discharges of wastes and pollutants to the environment, generation, handling, storage, transportation, treatment and disposal of waste materials by production facilities, land rehabilitation and reforestation.

The Environmental Protection Law promulgated by the National People’s Congress on December 26, 1989, is the primary law for environmental protection in China. The law establishes the basic principle for planned economic growth, social progress and environmental protection, and defines the rights and duties of governments at all levels. Local environmental protection bureaus may set more stringent local standards than the national standards and enterprises are required to comply with the more stringent of the two. The PRC Environmental Protection Law requires any entity operating a facility that produces pollutants or may create a hazard to incorporate environmental protection measures into its operations and to establish an environmental protection responsibility system, which must adopt effective measures to control and properly dispose waste materials.

New construction, expansion or reconstruction projects and other installations that directly or indirectly discharge pollutants will be subject to relevant state regulations governing environmental protection for such projects. Entities undertaking such projects must submit a pollutant discharge declaration statement detailing the amount, type, location and method of treatment to the competent authorities for approval. The authorities will issue a pollutant discharge license to the construction project operator specifying the amount of permitted discharge and the corresponding discharge fees. The release of pollutants is subject to monitoring by the competent environmental protection authorities. If an entity discharges more than the amount permitted by the pollutant discharge license, the local environmental protection bureau can fine the offending entity up to several times the discharge fees, require the offending entity to close its operations, or take other measures to rectify the violation.

In the environmental impact statement of a construction project, the project operator must assessment the pollution and environmental hazards the project is likely to produce and its impact on the ecosystem and measures for their prevention and control. The operator must submitstatement shall, after initial examination by the statement according toauthorities in charge of the construction project, be submitted by specified procedure to the competent department of environmental protection authorityadministration for examination and approval. The construction of sewage outlets within any water conservancy projects, such as canals, irrigation channels and reservoirs, shall be approved by the competent authority in charge of water conservancy projects.

Facilities for the prevention and control of pollution must be designed, constructed and implemented simultaneously with the primary construction contemplated by a project. These facilities must be inspected by the competent environmental protection authority and determined to conform with specified requirements before they can be implemented.

In addition,Enterprises that discharge pollutants must report to and register with the relevant authorities in accordance with the provisions of a department of environmental protection administration under the State Council. Enterprises that discharge pollutants in excess of the prescribed national or local standards will be fined for excessive discharge according to State provisions and will be responsible for eliminating and controlling the pollution.

According to the Law on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution of the People’s Republic of China, and the Administrative Regulations on Coal Dust Control at Portsthe Levy and RailwayUse of Discharge Fees, any new construction projects, which directly or indirectly discharge pollutants to water, such as coal mines and coking plants, must conduct an environmental impact assessment. Every new production facility must be equipped with waste water processing facilities which must be put in use together with the production facilities. Construction projects that discharge pollutants into water shall pay a pollutant discharge fee in accordance with state regulations.

Violators of the Environmental Protection Regulations, both require portLaw and various environmental regulations may be subject to warnings, payment of damages and fines. Any entity undertaking construction work or railway operatorsmanufacturing activities before the pollution and waste control and processing facilities are inspected and approved by the environmental protection department may be ordered to take measuressuspend production or operations and may be fined. The violators of relevant environment protection laws and regulations may be exposed to limit coal dust pollution.criminal liability if violations resulted in severe loss of property, personal injuries or death.

The rehabilitation of mining sites is another priority of the PRC Government. Under the Law of Land Administration of the People’s Republic of China promulgated on June 25, 1986, and amended on August 28, 2004, and the Land Rehabilitation Regulations, issued by the State Council in 1988, and effective beginning January 1, 1989, coal producers must undertake measures to restore a mining site to its original state within a prescribed time frame if their mining activities result in damage to arable land, grassland or forest. The rehabilitated land must meet rehabilitation standards, as required by law from time to time, and may only be subsequently used upon examination and approval by the land authorities. A coal producers’ failure to comply with this requirement or its failure to return the mining site to its original state will result in the imposition of fines, rehabilitation fees and/or rejection of applications for land use rights by the local bureau of land and resources.

Emissions of waste water by coal mines and coking plants are regulated by the Law on Prevention and Control of Water Pollution of the People’s Republic of China, promulgated by the National People’s Congress in 1984 and effective as amended on February 28, 2008, and the Administrative Regulations on the Levy and Use of Discharge Fees, issued by the State Council on January 2, 2003 and effective July 1, 2003. Any new construction projects, such as coal mines and coking plants, must submit an environmental impact statement, which shall include an assessment on the water pollution hazards the project is likely to produce and its impact on the ecosystem. The environment impact statement must also contain measures to prevent and control the water pollution hazards. Every new production facility must be equipped with waste water processing facilities which must be put in use together with the production facilities. Construction projects that discharge pollutants into water shall pay a pollutant discharge fee in accordance with state regulations.

Violators of the Environmental Protection Law and various environmental regulations may be subject to warnings, payment of damages and fines. Any entity undertaking construction work or manufacturing activities before the pollution and waste control and processing facilities are inspected and approved by the environmental protection department may be ordered to suspend production or operations and may be fined. The violators of relevant environment protection laws and regulations may be exposed to criminal liability if violations resulted in severe loss of property, personal injuries or death.

In addition to the PRC environmental laws and regulations, China is a signatory to the 1992 United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the 1998 Kyoto Protocol, which propose emission targets to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The Kyoto Protocol came into force on February 16, 2005. At present, the Kyoto Protocol has not set any specific emission targets for certain countries, including China.

Mineral Resources Laws and Regulations

Exploration, exploitation and mining operations must comply with the relevant provisions of the Mineral Resources Law and other relevant regulations, and are under the supervision of the Ministry of Land and Resources. Exploration and exploitation of mineral resources are also subject to examination and approval by the Ministry of Land and Resources and relevant local authorities. Upon approval, a mining permit is issued by the relevant administrative authorities, which are responsible for supervision and inspection of mining exploitation in their jurisdiction. The holders of mining rights are required to file annual reports with the relevant administrative authorities.

The Mineral Resources Law governs, among other things, the assignment of mining rights. If the entity holding the mining rights is to be changed due to a sale of enterprise assets or other circumstances that may cause a change in the property rights to the assets of the enterprise, the enterprise may assign its mining rights, subject to approval according to the Coal Law, the Mineral Resources Law and other laws and regulations.

The PRC Government permits mine operators of collectively owned mines to exploit mineral resources in designated areas and individuals to mine scattered mineral resources. Such mine operators and individuals are subject to government regulation. Mining activities by individuals are restricted. Individuals are not permitted to exploit mineral reserves allocated for exploitation by a mining enterprise or company or protected reserves. Indiscriminate mining that damages mineral resources is prohibited.

It is unlawful for an entity or individual to conduct mining operations in areas designated for other legal mining operators. A mining operator whose exploitation causes harm to others in terms of production or in terms of living standards is liable for compensation and is required to take necessary remedial measures. When a mine is closed, a mine closure report and information concerning the mining facilities, hidden dangers, remediation and environmental protection must be submitted for examination and approval in accordance with the relevant law.

The mineral products illegally extracted and the income derived from such activities may be confiscated and may result in fines, revocation of the mining permit and, in serious circumstances, criminal liability.

Mining safety

On June 7, 2005, the State Council promulgated Several Opinions on Promoting the Healthy Development of the Coal Industry (“Opinions”), announcing the PRC Government’s policies with respect to the development and restructuring of the coal industry. The Opinions resonated with the NDRC’s announcement on the revision of the Coal Law and reiterated the PRC Government’s policies with respect to the administration of coal reserves, enhancement of coal mine safety, encouragement of industry consolidation among coal producers, acceleration of the construction of large coal production bases, improvement of mining techniques and equipment for coal production and the organization and regulation of small coal mines.

TheAccording to the Measures for Implementing Work Safety Permits in Coal Mine Enterprises

The issued by the State Administration of Work Safety and the SACMS, issued “The Measures for Implementing Work Safety Permits in Coal Mine Enterprises”, which became effective on May 17, 2004 and the Notice on Administration of Work Safety Permits in Coal Mine Enterprises, which became effective on November 8, 2007. Pursuant to this document, a coal mine enterprise without a work safety permit may not engage in coal production activities. Coal mining enterprises and their mines that do not satisfy the safety conditions set forth in these documents, or those that violate the provisions of this document, will be punished accordingly. Coal mine enterprises that remain compliant with the requirements set in these documents may apply for administrative approval to extend the validity period of their Work Safety Permits.

Special Regulations by the State Council on Preventing Work Safety Related Accidents in Coal Mines and Five Sets of Supplemental Rules and Regulations

The Special Regulations by the State Council on Preventing Work Safety Related Accidents in Coal Mines were promulgated and entered into effect on September 3, 2005.

This regulation specifies that coal mine enterprises are responsible for preventing coal mine work safety-related accidents. If a coal mine has not obtained, in accordance with the law, a mining right permit, work safety permit, coal production permit or business license and if the mine manager has not obtained, in accordance with the law, a mine manager qualification certificate and a mine manager safety qualification certificate, the coal mine may not engage in production. A coal mine should have adequate safety equipment, facilities and resources and should have in place measures to guard against the occurrence of work safety related accidents, as well as a sound contingency plan to deal with emergencies. Coal mining enterprises should establish a sound system for the detection, elimination, treatment and reporting of latent work safety-related dangers. If a major latent work safety-related danger as specified exists in a coal mine, the enterprise should immediately suspend production and eliminate the latent danger. Coal mining enterprises should provide their personnel working underground and their special operation personnel with safety education and training in accordance

with relevant state regulations. The person in charge of a coal mine and the production and operation management personnel should go into mines and act as foremen on a rotating basis in accordance with state regulations, while a file recording their entry into the mine should be maintained.

In addition, the State Administration of Work Safety issued five sets of supplemental measures:

(i) Thethe Measures for Determining Major Latent Work Safety Related Dangers in Coal Mines (for Trial Implementation) stipulates; (ii) the specific criteria for determining major latent work safety-related dangers. It further defines each of the latent safety related dangers specified in the Special Regulations of the State Council on Preventing Work Safety Related Accidents in Coal Mines, and lists more than 60 major latent safety related dangers.

(ii) The Implementing Measures for the Detection and Elimination of Latent Dangers in

Coal Mines and the Rectification and Closure of Such Mines (for Trial Implementation) specifies that coal mining enterprises are responsible for; (iii) the detection and elimination of latent work safety-related dangers and that the main persons in charge of coal mining enterprises are fully responsible for the detection, elimination and treatment of latent work safety-related dangers in their enterprises.

(iii) The Measures for the Supervision and Inspection of Coal Mine Safety Training (for Trial Implementation) specifies that coal mining enterprises must arrange and provide safety education and training to all of their mining personnel in accordance with relevant regulations; select and send their principal persons in charge, work safety management personnel and special operation personnel to qualified coal mine safety training institutions for training in a timely manner; and obtain; (iv) the corresponding qualification certificates.

(iv) The Guiding Opinions on Persons in Charge of Coal Mines and Production and Operation Management Personnel Going into Mines as Foremen requiresForemen; (v) the various types of coal mines to arrange for their persons in charge and production and operation management personnel to go into the mines to act as foremen and to ensure that each shift has at least one such person on site directing the operations. Coal mining enterprises are required to establish such procedures, clarify foremen’s duties and responsibilities and strictly implement internal management and performance appraisal.

(v) The Measures for Rewarding the Reporting of Major Latent Work Safety Related Dangers in, and Violations of the Law by, Coal Mines (for Trial Implementation) specifies.

Coal Industry — Australian Regulatory Matters

Our mining operations in Australia are regulated by Australian federal and state governments with respect to environmental issues such as water quality, air quality, dust impacts, noise impacts, planning issues (such as approvals to expand existing mines or to develop new mines), and health and safety issues. Industrial relations are regulated under both federal and state laws. Australian state governments also require coal companies to post deposits or give other security against land which is being used for mining, with those deposits being returned or security released after satisfactory reclamation is completed.

Environmental

Each state and territory in Australia has its own environmental and planning regime for the development of mines. In addition, each state and territory also has a specific act dealing with mining in particular, regulating the granting of exploration licences and mining leases. The mining legislation in each state and territory generally operates concurrently with environmental and planning legislation. The mining legislation governs exploration licences and mining leases, including the restoration of land following the completion of mining activities.

The particular provisions of the various state and territory environmental and planning statutes vary depending upon the jurisdiction. Despite variation in details, each state and territory has a system involving at least two major phases. First, obtaining the developmental approval and, if that is granted, obtaining the detailed operational pollution control licences, which authorize emissions up to a maximum level; and second, obtaining pollution control approvals, which authorize the installation of pollution control equipment and devices. In the first regulatory phase, an application to a regulatory authority is filed. If the developmental application is granted, the detailed pollution control licence may then be issued and such licence may regulate emissions to the atmosphere; emissions in waters; noise impacts, including impacts from blasting; dust impacts; the generation, handling, storage and transportation of waste; and requirements for the rehabilitation and restoration of land.

Each state and territory in Australia also has either a specific statute or certain sections in environmental and planning statutes relating to the contamination of land and vesting powers in the various regulatory authorities in respect of the remediation of contaminated land. Those statutes are based on varying policies — the primary difference between the statutes is that in certain states and territories, liability for remediation is placed upon the occupier of the land, regardless of the culpability of that occupier for the contamination. In most states and territories, however, primary liability for remediation is placed on the original polluter, whether or not the polluter still occupies the land. If the original polluter cannot itself carry out the remediation, then a number of the statutes contain provisions which enable recovery of the costs of remediation from the polluter as a debt or from the owner of the site if the original polluter is no longer solvent.

Accordingly, in most states and territories throughout Australia, mining activities involve a number of regulatory phases. Following exploratory investigations pursuant to an exploration licence, the activity proposed to be carried out must be the subject of an application for the activity or development. This phase of the regulatory process, usually involves the preparation of extensive documents to constitute the application, addressing all unitsof the environmental impacts of the proposed activity. It also generally involves extensive notification and consultation with other relevant statutory authorities and members of the public. Once a decision is made to allow a mine to be developed by the grant of a development consent, permit or individualsother approval, then a formal mining lease can be obtained under the mining statute. In addition, operational licences and approvals can then be applied for and obtained in relation to pollution control devices and emissions to the atmosphere, to waters and for noise.

Occupational Health and Safety

The combined effect of various state and federal statutes requires an employer to ensure that persons employed in a mine are safe from injury by providing a safe working environment and systems of work; safety machinery; equipment, plant and substances; and appropriate information, instruction, training and supervision.

In recognition of the specialized nature of mining and mining activities, specific occupational health and safety obligations have been mandated under state legislation that deals specifically with the coal mining industry.

Mining employers, owners, directors and managers, persons in control of work places, mine managers, supervisors and employees are all subject to these duties. The federal government is currently conducting a review of health and safety legislation with a view to harmonizing requirements across the country.

It is mandatory for an employer to have insurance coverage with respect to the compensation of injured workers; similar coverage is in effect throughout Australia which is of a no fault nature and which provides for benefits up to a prescribed level. The specific benefits vary by jurisdiction, but generally include the payment of weekly compensation to an incapacitated employee, together with payment of medical, hospital and related expenses. The injured employee may have a right to report major latent work safety-related dangerssue his or her employer for further damages if a case of negligence can be established.

Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme

The Federal Labor Government ratified the Kyoto Protocol in December 2007. Under the treaty, Australia has a target of restricting greenhouse gas emissions to 108% of 1990 levels during the 2008 to 2012 commitment period. The Government has also committed to a 60% reduction in emissions by 2050, from 2000 levels. To assist in meeting these targets, the Australian Federal Government has announced that it intends to establish a cap and trade emissions trading scheme by July 2011, named the Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme. This scheme will impose costs on greenhouse gas emissions that will affect our business – however, the Government is likely to provide some support for the coal industry for the first few years of the scheme. If efforts to reduce energy greenhouse gas emissions reduce coal consumption in favor of other energy resources, our revenue would decrease and our business would be adversely affected.

Foreign Investment

No specific restrictions apply in relation to foreign investment in Australia’s coal industry. However, under Australian law and the Australian Government’s foreign investment policy, certain acquisitions must be notified to obtain the prior approval of the Treasurer before proceeding. These include acquisitions of substantial interests in an Australian business where the value of the business’ total assets is, or the proposal values it, above US$100 million. It also includes (a) proposals to establish new businesses involving a total investment of US$10 million or more; (b) offshore takeovers of a foreign company whose Australian subsidiaries or assets are valued at more than US$200 million, and account for less than 50% of the target company’s global assets (different thresholds apply to U.S. investors); (c) acquisition of shares in a company or trust which holds more than 50% of its assets in Australian urban land (regardless of the value of that acquisition); and (d) all direct investments in an Australian foreign business by foreign governments or their agencies (irrespective of the size of that Australian business or value of that acquisition and made either directly or through a company that is owned 15% or more by a foreign government).

Power Industry

The Electric Power Law and the Electric Power Regulatory Ordinance

The Electric Power Law of the People’s Republic of China (the “Electric Power Law”) sets out the regulatory framework of the power industry. The Electric Power Law encourages power plant operators to focus on environmental protection and adopt new technology to decrease waste discharge.

In 2005, the State Council promulgated the Electric Power Regulatory Ordinance. The Electric Power Regulatory Ordinance sets forth regulatory requirements for many aspects of the power industry, including, among others, the issuance of electric power business permit, the regulatory inspections of power generators and grid companies and the legal liabilities from violations of lawthe regulatory requirements.

Approvals and Licences for Power Plants

Applications for all new coal-fired power plants are required to be submitted to the NDRC for approval, as well as the State Council for significant power plant projects. According to the Provisions on the Administration of Electric Power Business Licenses, applicants are also required to obtain requisite permits, including an Electric Power Business for Power Generation and approvals related to plant site, land use rights, construction and the environment.

Pricing

Since 1996, the Electric Power Law has set forth general principles for determining power tariffs. The Interim Provisions for the Administration of Grid Power Price promulgated by NDRC states that tariffs are to be formulated to provide reasonable compensation for costs and a reasonable return on investment, to share expenses fairly and to promote the construction of power projects. With the exception of grid power prices set by governmental bids or power plans that produce alternative energy, grid power prices of new power plants within the same region should be uniform. The on-grid tariffs for planned output and excess output are subject to a review and approval process involving the NDRC and the provincial price bureaus. In 2004, the NDRC, with the approval of the State Council, issued a new policy to link thermal coal mines.and power prices which will allow power generation companies to pass through 70% of certain increases in coal prices to end users through increases in on-grid tariffs. When the price of coal fluctuates significantly, grid power prices will be amended accordingly.

C. Organizational StructureSafety

In accordance with the Measures for Regulating the Work Safety of Electricity, issued by the SERC, power plants are responsible for maintaining their safety operations in accordance with requirements set by the regional grid in which they are located. Power plants are required to report to the SERC and relevant local government authorities worker fatalities or serious or extraordinary accidents.

Coal Chemical Processing Industry

The State announced in the Coal Law its encouragement and support for coal mining enterprises and other enterprises to produce both coal and electricity, coking coal and coal chemicals. The NDRC issued the Notice of Strengthening the Administration of Coal Chemical Processing Industry and Improving the Healthy Development of the Industry, which was aimed at strengthening the coal chemical processing industry through the promotion of transportation safety, risk prevention and management standardization. According to the Enterprise Income Tax Law and its implementation regulations, enterprises that produce products using resources encouraged by industrial policies of the State are eligible for preferential tax treatment. If an enterprise uses any of the materials that are listed in the Catalogue of Income Tax Preference for Enterprises of Comprehensive Utilization of Resources as a major raw material in its product, the total income derived from such product for tax purposes will be reduced by 90%. Coke oven gas, one of the primary raw materials in our methanol production, is one of the materials listed on in the catalogue.

C.Organizational Structure

As of the end of 2007,2008, our Company consisted of 17 departments, namely the Secretariat of the Board of Directors, Audit Department of the Board of Directors, Department of Coordination, Department of Human Resources, Department of Financial Planning, Enterprise Management Department, Information Management Department, Enterprise Development Department, Risk Management Department, General Control Center, Department of Production Technology, Department of Safety Inspection, Electrical Engineering and Power Department, Ventilation and Dust Elimination Department, Geological Survey Department, Community Relationship Office and Technical Center.

The diagram below illustrates our organizational structure as of December 31, 2007:2008, which the exception of Hua Ju Energy, which did not become our subsidiary until February 2009:

LOGOLOGO

 

*with the exception of Yancoal Australia Pty Limited and Austar Coal Mine Pty Limited, all of our Subsidiaries are located in the PRC

D.Property, Plants and Equipment

D. Property, Plants and Equipment

Real Property and Leasehold Property

As of December 31, 2007,2008, the net book value of our property, plant and equipment was RMB13,524.6RMB14,149.4 million. The Six Coal Mines and their production and ancillary facilities are primarily

located in Shandong Province. We also own some assets in Shaanxi Province and Shanxi Province as well as in Australia. As of December 31, 2007,2008, our Company collectively occupied an area of approximately 22.823.2 million square meters, of which approximately 5.6 million square meters is occupied by the Company in Shandong Province. Heze Nenghua owns approximately 384.4 thousand square meters of land, Shanxi Nenghua owns 258,406.7approximately 258.4 thousands square meters of land, Yulin Nenghua owns 698,000approximately 698.0 thousands square meters of land and Yancoal Australia owns approximately 16.2 million square meters of land. Hua Ju Energy owns 352,100.1 square meters of land. Under PRC law, we have freely transferable land use rights for a term of 50 years commencing from the respective dates when we acquired such land use rights in the PRC. In addition, land ownership held by Yancoal Australia is not subject to expiration pursuant to Australia law. Based on our business development requirements, we will seek opportunities to acquire additional land and to obtain the relevant governmental approvals. We are in the process of applying to the appropriate authorities to obtain relevant title certificates for certain of our properties.

Coal Mines and Coal Production Facilities

Existing coal mines

The Six Coal Mines currently operated by us are all located in the southwestern part of Shandong Province. All of these mines are connected by our railway network, which provides access to our customers either directly or through the PRC national railway or highway system. We completed the acquisition of Austar Coal Mine on December 24, 2004.

We acquired 95.67% equity interest in Heze Nenghua on December 7, 2005 and increased our ownership interest to 96.67% on April 20, 2007. Heze Nenghua is primarily engaged to conduct the initial preparation of theestablish Zhaolou Wanfu and other coal minesCoal Mine located at the Juye Coalfield including (i) obtaining the approvals for coal mine projects, (ii) applying for the necessary coal exploration rights, and (iii) preparing for the construction of the coal mines.in Shandong Province. In March 2009, Zhaolou Coal Mine commenced production.

In 2006, we acquired 98% equity interest in Shanxi Nenghua, which was owned by Yankuang Group. Subsequently, in February 2007, Yanzhou Coal acquired the remaining 2% equity interest in Shanxi Nenghua from Yankuang Group’s subsidiary, Lunan Fertilizer Plant. Shanxi Nenghua is primarily engaged in the management of our investment projects in Shanxi Province, consisting primarily of the operations of Tianchi Coal Mine and Tianhao Chemicals’ 100,000 tonne methanol project.

The map below shows the locationslocation of the Six Coal Mines in Shandong Province and the connection of the railway system :system:

LOGOLOGO

The map below shows the location of Austar Coal Mine:

LOGOLOGO

The map below shows the location of Tianchi Coal Mine:

LOGOLOGO

The map below shows the location of Zhaolou Coal Mine:

LOGO

All of our coal mines are underground mines. The following table sets out detailed information for each of our Six Coal Mines in the southwestern part of Shandong Province:

 

  Nantun  Xinglong
Zhuang
  Baodian  Dongtan  Jining II Jining III  Total  Nantun  Xinglong
Zhuang
  Baodian  Dongtan  Jining II  Jining III  Total

Background data:

                           

Commencement of construction

  1966  1975  1977  1979  1989  1993  N/A  1966  1975  1977  1979  1989  1993  N/A

Commencement of commercial production

  1973  1981  1986  1989  1997  2000  N/A  1973  1981  1986  1989  1997  2000  N/A

Coalfield area (square kilometers)

  35.2  59.81  36.4  60.0  87.1  105.1  383.61  35.2  59.81  36.4  60.0  87.1  105.1  383.61

Reserve data:(1)

(millions tonnes as of December 31, 2007)

             

Reserve data:(1)(millions tonnes as of December 31, 2008)

              

Total in-place proven and probable reserves(2)(3)

  125.41  340.80  299.64  471.33  422.07  239.29  1,898.55  122.59  333.49  293.85  464.46  418.08  233.48  1,865.95

Mining recovery rate (%)

  79.38  79.00  79.36  84.38  78.81  80.60  N/A  80.84  81.69  79.34  85.0  77.12  80.51  N/A

Coal preparation plant recovery rate (%)(4)

  71.33  93.97  86.22  71.18  79.42  65.68  N/A  82.3  68.59  80.22  63.52  44.03  60.03  66.63

Depth of mine(meters underground)

  397.0  429.2  474.7  710.0  593.0  556.0  N/A  397.0  429.2  474.7  710.0  593.0  556.0  N/A

Average thickness of main coal seam(meters)

  8.60  8.29  8.81  8.41  6.78  6.20  N/A  8.60  8.29  8.81  8.41  6.78  6.20  N/A

Type of coal

  Steam  Steam  Steam  Steam  Steam  Steam  N/A  Steam  Steam  Steam  Steam  Steam  Steam  N/A

Leased/owned

  Owned  Owned  Owned  Owned  Owned  Owned  N/A  Owned  Owned  Owned  Owned  Owned  Owned  N/A

Assigned/unassigned(5)

  Assigned  Assigned  Assigned  Assigned  Assigned  Assigned  N/A  Assigned  Assigned  Assigned  Assigned  Assigned  Assigned  N/A

Average calorific value (Kcal/kg)

  5,572  5,881  5,890  5,586  5,467  5,412  N/A  5,572  5,881  5,890  5,586  5,467  5,412  N/A

Sulfur content (%)

  0.74  0.47  0.52  0.60  0.56  0.52  N/A  0.74  0.47  0.52  0.60  0.56  0.52  N/A

Production data:
(million tonnes)

                           

Designed raw coal production capacity

  2.4  3.0  3.0  4.0  4.0  5.0  21.4  2.4  3.0  3.0  4.0  4.0  5.0  21.4

Designed coal preparation input capacity

  1.8  3.0  3.0  4.0  3.0  5.0  19.8  1.8  3.0  3.0  4.0  3.0  5.0  19.8

Raw coal production

                           

1994

  2.9  3.9  3.3  3.5  —    —    13.6  2.9  3.9  3.3  3.5  —    —    13.6

1995

  3.6  3.8  3.6  3.8  0.2(6) —    15.0  3.6  3.8  3.6  3.8  0.2  —    15.0

1996

  4.0  4.0  4.1  4.9  0.4(6) —    17.4  4.0  4.0  4.1  4.9  0.4  —    17.4

1997

  3.9  4.1  4.0  4.9  0.8(6) —    17.7  3.9  4.1  4.0  4.9  0.8  —    17.7

1998

  4.2  5.0  4.3  5.4  1.8  —    20.7  4.2  5.0  4.3  5.4  1.8  —    20.7

1999

  4.0  6.1  4.7  6.1  3.2  —    24.1  4.0  6.1  4.7  6.1  3.2  —    24.1

2000

  4.5  6.2  5.3  6.7  4.8  —    27.5  4.5  6.2  5.3  6.7  4.8  —    27.5

2001

  4.9  6.6  6.2  7.1  4.1  5.1  34.0  4.9  6.6  6.2  7.1  4.1  5.1  34.0

2002

  3.6  7.1  6.4  8.1  5.2  8.0  38.4  3.6  7.1  6.4  8.1  5.2  8.0  38.4

2003

  4.7  7.0  7.3  8.2  6.0  10.1  43.3  4.7  7.0  7.3  8.2  6.0  10.1  43.3

2004

  4.1  7.4  7.0  8.5  4.9  7.3  39.2  4.1  7.4  7.0  8.5  4.9  7.3  39.2

2005

  4.0  6.6  5.0  7.5  4.5  7.0  34.6  4.0  6.6  5.0  7.5  4.5  7.0  34.6

2006

  3.9  7.2  5.6  8.0  4.0  6.8  35.5  3.9  7.2  5.6  8.0  4.0  6.8  35.5

2007

  3.9  6.8  5.8  7.6  3.4  5.3  32.8  3.9  6.8  5.8  7.6  3.4  5.3  32.8

Cumulative raw coal production
as of December 31, 2007

  56.2  81.8  72.6  90.3  43.3  49.6  393.8

2008

  3.5  6.6  6.0  7.0  3.9  6.1  33.1

Cumulative raw coal production as of December 31, 2008

  59.7  88.4  78.6  97.3  47.2  55.7  426.9

 

(1)The reserve data including (i) total in-place proven and probable reserves, (ii) mining and coal preparation plant recovery rates; (iii) depth of mine; and (iv) average thickness of main coal seam are based on the relevant information from the report of independent mining consultants and/or the operating data derived from our record. The total in-place proven and probable reserves are reported after deduction of actual production volume and non-accessible reserves up to December 31, 2007.2008. Non-accessible reserves are defined as the portion of identified resources estimated to be not accessible by application of one or more accessibility factors within an area. The report of the independent mining consultants for Nantun, Xinglong Zhuang, Baodian, Dongtan and Jining II was prepared by International Mining Consultants Limited, Nottinghamshire, United Kingdom (“IMC”) on February 16, 1998, and the Report for Jining III was prepared by SRK Consulting in August 2000.
(2)In-place reserves refer to coal in-situ prior to the deduction of pillars of support, barriers or constraints for longwall mining.
(3)See the individual description of each mine for relevant mining methods used.
(4)Coal preparation plant recovery rate refers to the wash plant recovery rate of raw coal used during the production of our clean coal products.
(5)“Assigned” reserves refer to coal which has been committed to a particular mining complex (mine shafts, mining equipment, and plant facilities), and all coal which has been leased by the company to others. “Unassigned” reserves refer to coal which has not been committed, and which would require new mineshafts, mining equipment, or plant facilities before operations could begin on the property.
(6)Produced during trial production period.

Nantun Coal Mine. Nantun is located in the southern portion of our coalfield. Nantun began its commercial production initially in 1973 with a designed annual raw coal production capacity of 1.5 million tonnes of coal. In 1993, the designed annual production capacity for Nantun increased to 2.4 million tonnes after the completion of a renovation project. The main coal seam of Nantun is divided into two leaves. The thickness of the upper leaf averages 5.45.35 meters and the thickness of the lower leaf

averages 3.23.21 meters. As of December 31, 2007,2008, the total in-place proven and probable reserves on the main coal layer were approximately 125.4122.6 million tonnes. WeAt this mine, we generally use the longwallfully-mechanized sublevel caving mining method to extract coal from the upper layer of the coal seam and use a fully-mechanized longwall system to mine the lower layer of the coal seam. Nantun produces coal from three work-faces.

The Nantun coal preparation plant produces mainly No. 2 and No. 3 Clean Coal and employs only jig machines. Most of the equipment used in the Nantun coal preparation plant was manufactured in the PRC.

Xinglongzhuang Coal Mine. Xinglongzhuang is located in the northern portion of our coalfield. The main coal seam of Xinglongzhuang is concentrated in one leaf with an average thickness of 8.3 meters. As of December 31, 2007,2008, the total in-place proven and probable reserves on the main coal layer were approximately 340.8333.5 million tonnes. WeAt this mine, we principally use longwallthe fully-mechanized sublevel caving mining method to extract coal from the coal seam of Xinglongzhuang Coal Mine. Xinglongzhuang produces coal from two work-faces.

The Xinglongzhuang coal preparation plant produces mainly No. 1, No. 2 and No. 3 Clean Coal. Xinglongzhuang produces coal from two work-faces.

The principal pieces of equipment in the Xinglongzhuang coal preparation plant, including the jig machines, sink-and-float separation machines and floating separation machines were imported.

Baodian Coal Mine. Baodian is located in the central western portion of our coalfield. Certain sections of the main coal seam of Baodian are concentrated in one leaf, with an average thickness of 8.81 meters, and the remaining sections are divided into two leaves with average thickness of 5.74 meters for the upper leaf and 3.38 meters for the lower leaf. As of December 31, 2007,2008, the total in-place proven and probable reserves on the main coal layer were approximately 299.6293.8 million tonnes. WeAt this mine, we generally use the longwallfully-mechanized sublevel caving mining method to extract coal from the upper layer of the coal seam and use mechanized longwall faces to mine the lower layer of the coal seam. Currently, Baodian Coal Mine produces coal from onetwo work-face.

The original design of the Baodian coal preparation plant was identicalis similar to that of the Nantun coal preparation plant. Subsequently, we remodeled the jig machines and added a number ofmodified sink-and-float machines and floating separation machinesprocessing system in the Baodian coal preparation plant. Most of the equipment used in the Baodian coal preparation plant was manufactured in the PRC. The principal products of the Baodian coal preparation plant are No. 2 and No. 3 Clean Coal.

Dongtan Coal Mine. Dongtan is located in the central eastern portion of our coalfield. Certain sections of the main coal seam consist of one layer with an average thickness of 8.48.41 meters, and the remaining sections are divided into two layers, with an average thickness of 5.45.38 meters for the upper layer and 3.23.22 meters for the lower layer. As of December 31, 2007,2008, the main coal layer held approximately 471.3464.5 million tonnes of in-place proven and probable reserves. WeAt this mine, we generally use the longwallfully-mechanized sublevel caving mining method to extract coal from the sections of the coal seam with one layer of coal and the upper layer in the sections with two layers of coal. Dongtan Coal Mine operates two work-faces.

Most of the equipment used in the Dongtan coal preparation plant, including the jig machines, thea modified sink-and-float separation machines and the floating separation machines,processing system, was manufactured in the PRC. The principal products of the Dongtan coal preparation plant are No. 2 and No. 3 Clean Coal.

Jining II Coal Mine. Jining II is located in the northern portion of the Jining coalfield.

Certain sections of the main coal seam of Jining II are concentrated in one layer, with an average thickness of 6.86.78 meters, and the remaining sections are divided into two layers, with an average thickness of 2.1 meters for the upper leaf and an average thickness of 4.6874.68 meters for the lower leaf. As of December 31, 2007,2008, the total in-place proven and probable reserves on the main coal layer were approximately 422.1418.1 million tonnes. WeAt this coal mine, we use mainly the longwallfully-mechanized sublevel caving mining method to extract coal from the upper layer of the coal seam and use mechanized longwall faces to mine the lower layer of the coal seam. Jining II Coal Mine produces coal from twothree work-faces.

The main equipment used in Jining II is jig machines, most of which isare manufactured in the PRC. The principal products of the Jining II coal preparation plant are No. 2 and No. 3 Clean Coal.

Jining III Coal Mine. Jining III is located in the southern portion of the Jining coalfield and covers an area of 110.0 square kilometers. Jining III commenced commercial production on December 28, 2000, having a designed annual raw coal production capacity of five million tonnes. As of December 31, 2007,2008, the total in-place proven and probable reserves on the main coal layer were approximately 239.3

233.5 million tonnes. The average thickness of the main coal seam of Jining III is 6.2 meters, andmeters. At this mine, we mainly rely on the fully-mechanized sublevel caving method to extract coal from three work-faces in Jining IIIII Coal Mine operates three work-faces.Mine.

The main pieces of equipment used in Jining III isare jig machines, which waswere imported from Germany. The principal products of the Jining III coal preparation plant are No. 2 and No. 3 Clean Coal.

The following table sets out detailed information for our Austar, Tianchi and Zhaolou mines:

 

  Austar  Tianchi  Zhaolou  Total  Austar  Tianchi  Zhaolou  Total

Background data:

                

Commencement of construction(1)

  1998  2004  2004  N/A  1998  2004  2004  N/A

Commencement of commercial production(1)(2)

  2000  2006  Under
development
  N/A  2000  2006  2009  N/A

Coalfield area(square kilometers)

  63.0  20.0  143.36  226.4  63.0  20.0  144.89  227.89

Reserve data:(3)

(millions tonnes as of December 31, 2007)

        

Reserve data:(3)(millions tonnes as of December 31, 2008)

        

Recoverable reserves(4)(5)

  50.0  29.2  106.0  185.2  48.0  28.47  106.0  182.47

Depth of mine(meters underground)

  300  225  905  N/A  300  225  905  N/A

Average thickness of main coal seam(meters)

  5.30  4.56  8.02  N/A  5.30  4.56  8.02  N/A

Type of coal

  Metallurgical  Steam  Steam and
metallurgical
  N/A  Semi-hard
coking coal
  Steam   1/3 coking
coal
  N/A

Leased/owned

  Owned  Owned  Owned  N/A  Owned  Owned  Owned  N/A

Assigned/unassigned(6)

  Assigned  Assigned  N/A  N/A  Assigned  Assigned  Assigned  N/A

Average calorific value (Kcal/kg)

  6,196  5,177  6,937  N/A  6,196  5,177  6,937  N/A

Sulfur content (%)

  1.30  0.90  0.53  N/A  1.30  0.90  0.53  N/A

Production data:(million tonnes)

                

Designed raw coal production capacity

  2.0  1.2  3.0  5.2  2.0  1.2  3.0  5.2

Designed coal preparation input capacity

  2.0  —    —    2.0  2.0  —    —    2.0

Raw coal production

                

2006

  0.4  0.1  —    0.5  0.4  0.1  —    0.5

2007

  1.6  1.2  —    2.8  1.6  1.2  —    2.8

Cumulative raw coal production as of December 31, 2007

  2.0  1.3  —    3.3

2008

  1.9  1.1  —    3.0

Cumulative raw coal production as of December 31, 2008

  3.9  2.4  —    6.3

 

(1)With respect to Tianchi Coal Mine, “start of construction” refers to “the redevelopment and expansion”; “start of commercial production” refers to “commencement of production after completion of redevelopment and expansion”.
(2)Austar Coal Mine was shut down in 2004 as the result of a fire. We acquired Austar Coal Mine in 2004 and implemented a production expansion and technology upgrade in 2005. Austar Coal Mine resumed partial operation in October 2006.
(3)The reserve data (except for Austar Coal Mine) including (i) recoverable reserves; (ii) depth of mine; and (iii) average thickness of main coal seam is based on the relevant information from the report of independent mining consultants and/or the operating data derived from our record. Recoverable reserves are reported after deduction of actual production volume and non-accessible reserves up to December 31, 2006.2008. Non-accessible reserves are defined as the portion of identified resources estimated to be not accessible by application of one or more accessibility factors within an area. The report of the independent mining consultant for Tianchi Coal Mine and Zhaolou Coal Mine was prepared by Minarco Asia Pacific Pty Limited in May 2006, which is attached heretoincorporated by reference as Exhibit 14.115.1 to this Annual Report.annual report.
(4)Recoverable reserves refer to the amount of proven and probable reserves that can be recovered after taking into account all mining and preparation losses that occur during the processing of coal after it is mined.
(5)See the individual description of each mine for relevant mining methods used.
(6)“Assigned” reserves refer to coal which has been committed to a particular mining complex (mine shafts, mining equipment, and plant facilities), and all coal which has been leased by the company to others. “Unassigned” reserve refers to coal which has not been committed, and which would require new mineshafts, mining equipment, or plant facilities before operations could begin on the property.

Austar Coal Mine.Austar Coal Mine is an underground mine located in Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia and is accessible by railway. Austar Coal Mine covers an area of 63.0 square kilometers.

Austar Coal Mine was constructed in 1998 and commenced commercial production in 2000.

In December 2003, an underground fire occurred at Austar Coal Mine when it was still owned by Southland Coal Pty Limited.,Limited, resulting in cessationthe closing of mining operations in January 2004.the mine. On December 24, 2004, Yanzhou Coal acquired the entire interest in the Austar Coal Mine for approximately AUD 32AUD32 million from independent third parties including Southland Coal Pty Limited, and completed the transfer on December 24, 2004.an independent third party.

We commencedinvested in the reconstruction, capacity expansion and technology upgrade of Austar Coal Mine in 2005 with a planned budget of AUD230.3 million, which included the budgetfunding for equipment and machinery. After we completed the foregoing investment in Austar Coal Mine, the mine resumed commercial production in October 2006 after we completed the reconstruction, capacity expansion and technology upgrade of Austar Coal Mine.2006.

Austar Coal Mine produces hardsemi-hard coking coal and semi-soft coking coal. The average thickness of the main coal seam of Austar Coal Mine is 5.35.30 meters. As of December 31, 2007,2008, the mine’s total recoverable reserves were approximately 50.048.0 million tonnes. WeAt this mine, we principally use the longwallfully-mechanized caving mining method to extract coal from the coal seam of Austar Coal Mine. Currently, Austar Coal Mine operates with one work-face.

The main equipment used in Austar Coal Mine is the heavy-medium cyclone machines, which are manufactured in Australia.machine. These heavy-medium cyclone machines are manufactured in Australia and have an average service life of approximately four years.

We have not contracted the mining operations at Austar to third party mining contractors. The operations at Austar Coal Mine rely largely on the supply ofare powered by electricity from local power grids. We ship the coal products from the Austar Coal Mine to Newcastle Port via railway.

Tianchi Coal Mine. Tianchi Coal Mine is an underground mine located in Heshun County of Shanxi Province, with an area of approximately 20 square kilometers.

After obtaining approval from the State Development Reform Committee on December 31, 2004, Tianchi Coal Mine underwent a redevelopment and expansion. In 2006, we gained control over Tianchi Coal Mine in the acquisition of Shanxi Nenghua and its subsidiary, Tianchi Energy. See “Item 4. — History and Development of Our Company — Acquisition of Shanxi Nenghua”. We incurred RMB41.3 million for construction work and equipment purchases of equipment in connection with the expansion ofto expand Tianchi Coal Mine. On November 3, 2006 Tianchi Coal Mine commenced commercial production.

We acquired a 98% equity interest in Shanxi Nenghua, the parent company of Tianchi Energy, owned by the Parent Company in November 2006, and in February 2007, we acquired the remaining 2% equity interest in Shanxi Nenghua from the Parent Company’s subsidiary, Lunan Fertilizer Plant. Through Tianchi Energy, we own an 81.31% interest of Tianchi Coal Mine. We currently possess a mining right permit for Tianchi Coal Mine from the Shanxi Provincial Department of Land and Resources, which is valid until January 2009.

The designed production capacity of Tianchi Coal Mine was increased from 0.3 million300,000 tonnes to 1.2 million tonnes per annum in 2006. We currently do not have plans to further alterincrease the capacity or operations of the mine. On November 3, 2006 Tianchi Coal Mine commenced commercial production.

Tianchi Coal Mine is operated by inclined shaft development, and it produces mostly lean coal and meager lean coal. Although there are over 10 coal seams at Tianchi Coal Mine, there is only one target seam. The average thickness of this target coal seam is 4.54.56 meters. As of December 31, 2006,2008, the total recoverable reserves of Tianchi Coal Mine were approximately 29.228.47 million tonnes. We principally use the longwall caving mining method to extract coal from the coal seam ofone work-face at Tianchi Coal Mine. Currently,

In 2008, Tianchi Coal Mine operates with one longwall face.

underwent a technological upgrade and installed a sink-and-float separation processing system. The primary piece of equipment in this system are slanted wheel separators, which are manufactured in China. Tianchi Coal Mine does not have a coal preparation plant. The pieces of equipment used in Tianchi Coal Mine include coal mining machines, hydraulic roof supports and wide face and rear scraper conveyors and transfer machines, that are approximately three to five years old.primarily produces steam coal.

We do not employ mining contractors at Tianchi Coal Mine. The operations at Tianchi Coal Mine rely largely onare powered by electricity from local power grids. We ship coal products from the Tianchi Coal Mine to Hebei Province and surrounding areas on the Yangshe Railway as well as the national railway network.

Mines under Development – Zhaolou Coal Mine

. Zhaolou Coal Mine is an underground longwall mine located in the central portion of Juye Coal Field in Shandong Province. Zhaolou Coal Mine covers an area of 143approximately 145 square kilometers, and is accessible by roadway and railway.

In 2005, weWe acquired a 95.67% equity interest in Heze Nenghua from the Parent Company. In 2007, we further increased our interest in Heze Nenghua from 95.67% to 96.67%. The increased registered capital will be mainly used for the construction of Zhaolou Coal Mine. In 2006, the Parent Company obtained the mining rights permit for Zhaolou Coal Mine from the Ministry of Land and Resources. At the first extraordinary general meeting of the Company in 2008 held on January 30, 2008, the shareholders approvedthrough the acquisition of the mining rightsHeze Henghua from Yankuang Group. See “Item 4. — History and Development of Zhaolou Coal Mine for a consideration of RMB747.3 million. After obtaining the approval from the Ministry of Land and Resources, we were granted the mining rights for Zhaolou Coal Mine in May 2008.

Our Company ”. The construction of Zhaolou Coal Mine commenced in 2004 and is expected to bewas completed by the fourthfirst quarter of 2008.2009. Zhaolou Coal Mine has a designed annual raw coal production capacity of three million tonnes. Zhaolou Coal Mine produces 1/ 1/3 coking coal and steam coal. The average thickness of the main coal seam of Zhaolou Coal Mine is 7seven to 9nine meters. The total recoverable reserves of Zhaolou Coal Mine were approximately 106.0 million tonnes as of December 31, 2007.2008. We will principally use the longwall caving mining method to extract coal from the coal seams of Zhaolou Coal Mine.

The Company currently plans to build one coal preparation plant at Zhaolou Coal Mine. The main pieces of equipment that will be used in Zhaolou Coal Mine are coal mining machines, tunnel boring machines, friction hoists, synchronous motors and axial fans. The construction costs and equipment purchasesWe have invested an aggregate of RMB2,538.8 million in Zhaolou Coal Mine is expected to total approximately RMB2,322 million, of which we have spent an aggregate of RMB1,228 million as of December 31, 2007.2008.

We do not employ mining contractors at Zhaolou Coal Mine. The operations at Zhaolou Coal Mine rely largely onare powered by electricity that will be delivered from local power gridsgrids.

Railway Assets

Currently, the Railway Assets consist of 31 locomotives, 313 railcars, and approximately 204 kilometers of special purpose coal transportation railway tracks that connect most of our coal mines and production units of the Controlling Shareholder and our largest end-user, Zouxian Power Plant. As of December 31, 2007, our Railway Asset Department employed approximately 4,188 employees. The railway network connects to two of the major national railways, namely, the Beijing-Shanghai Railway and Yanzhou-Shijiugang Railway.

Mining Rights

Mining Rights for Nantun, Xinglongzhuang, Baodian, Dongtan and Jining II

According to the approval from the State-owned Supervision Department and the Coal Industry Supervision Department obtained at the establishment of the Company, the Mining Agreement entered into with Yankuang Group in October 1997 and the supplemental agreement entered into in February 1998, the five coal mines owned by the Company, namely Nantun, Xinglongzhuang, Baodian, Dongtan and Jining II (“the Five Mines”), would pay approximately RMB13.0 million per year to Yankuang Group as compensation for the depletion of the coal resources at the Five Mines. Yankuang Group will collect this compensation for ten years beginning 1997, and if the State implements new regulations after ten years, the compensation would be adjusted accordingly. In 2007, we paid Yankuang Group RMB13.0 million as compensation for the depletion of coal resources at the Five Mines.

In September 2006, the State Council approved the Implementation Plan for the Compensation System Reform Testing in relation to Deepening Coal Resources as jointly promulgated by the Finance Department, Ministry of Land and Resources and the National Development and Reform Commission. According to the implementation plan, if an enterprise obtained mining rights that were the result of state-funded exploration, it must pay mining right fees in relation to valuation of the remaining reserves. Shandong Province is one of the testing points for mining rights paid with consideration. As of the date of this Annual Report,annual report, there remained some uncertainty on the detailed terms of the implementation of the use of mining rights in Shandong Province.

Beginning 2008, we made provisions of RMB5 per tonne of coal extracted to serve as mining right resource compensation fees as our annual fees for the mining right of the Five Coal Mines, in anticipation of Shandong Province’s implementation of detailed rules for resource compensation fees. For the year ended December 31, 2008, our collective provision for resource compensation fees for the Five Mines was approximately RMB135.1 million.

Jining III Coal Mine

Pursuant to the Jining III Coal Mine Acquisition Agreement dated August 4, 2000 entered into between us and the Controlling Shareholder, the consideration for the mining right of Jining III Coal Mine is approximately RMB132.5 million, which shall be paid to the Controlling Shareholder in ten equal annual interest free installments commencing from 2001. During 2007,2008, we paid RMB13.3RMB13.2 million to the Controlling Shareholder.

Austar Coal Mine

We obtained an exploration license for Austar Coal Mine from the NSW Department of Primary Industries on April 21, 2005. Pursuant to the underlying Asset Sale Agreement, we were obligated to pay AUD4.0 million after obtaining the exploration license to the new exploration site adjacent to the Austar Coal Mine. During 2005, we obtained such exploration license for the adjacent mines and accordingly, paid RMB23.6 million.

Tianchi Coal Mine

We acquired Shanxi Nenghua for RMB748.3 million, of which RMB136.6 million was consideration for the mining right of Tianchi Coal Mines.Mine.

Zhaolou Coal Mine

In December 2005, we acquired 95.67% of the equity interest in Heze Nenghua from the Controlling Shareholder. In 2007, we further increased our interest in Heze Nenghua to 96.67%. The increased registered capital will be mainly used for the construction of Zhaolou Coal Mine.

On June 28, 2006, the Controlling Shareholder obtained the mining rights permit for Zhaolou Coal Mine issued by the Ministry of Land and Resources. On January 30, 2008, our shareholders approved the purchase of the mining rights of Zhaolou Coal Mine by Heze Nenghua for RMB747.3 million. On May 5, 2008, the acquisition was also approved by the relevant regulatory authorities regulating national land and resources. The construction

Railway Assets

Our Railway Assets consist of Zhaolou Coal Mine is expected to be completed in 2008.

Except for the Five Mines13 diesel locomotives, 18 steam locomotives, 313 rail cars, and approximately 204 kilometers of the Company, we have paid consideration to obtain the mining rights of allspecial purpose coal transportation railway tracks that connect most of our coal mines with production units of Yankuang Group and our largest end-user, Zouxian Power Plant. The railway network connects to two of major national railways, namely, the Beijing-Shanghai Railway and Yanzhou-Shijiugang Railway. As of December 31, 2008, our Railway Asset Department employed approximately 3,557 employees.

Methanol and Electric Power Plants

Yulin Nenghua. We have constructed a 600,000 tonne methanol plant in Yulin City of Shaanxi Province, which is operated by our subsidiary, Yulin Nenghua. The primary pieces of equipment at the methanol plant include steam turbines, GEA air-cooler exchangers, gasifiers and gasification compressors. Yulin Nenghua also operates a supporting power plant at the same location with a 60 megawatt installed capacity.

Tianhao Chemicals. We have constructed a 100,000 tonne methanol plant and a supporting power plant with 24 megawatt installed capacity in Xiaoyi City of Shanxi Province through our subsidiary, Tianhao Chemicals. The methanol plant includes equipment such as low pressure wet type spiral gas cabinets, coke oven gas compressors, reformers and converters.

Coal-fired Power Plants

Hua Ju Energy. The headquarters of Hua Ju Energy is located in Zoucheng city of Shandong Province. Hua Ju Energy owns and operates six power plants, each of which is located near one of our major coal mines. Those power plants include Nantun power plant at Nantun Coal Mine, Xinglongzhuang power plant at Xinglongzhuang Coal Mine, Baodian power plant at Baodian Coal Mine, Dongtan power plant at Dongtan Coal Mine, Jining II power plant at Jining II Coal Mine and Jidongxincun power plant at Jining III Coal Mine. The aggregate installed capacity of these six power plants is 144 megawatts and the annual power generation capacity and heat supply capacity are 1.1 billion kilowatt-hours and one million steam tonnes, respectively.

 

ITEM 4A.UNRESOLVED STAFF COMMENTS

There are no unresolved staff comments from the Securities Exchange Commission.

ITEM 5.ITEM 5.OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS

The following discussion and analysis should be read in conjunction with the information set forth in our consolidated financial statements, together with the related notes, included in this Annual Report.annual report.

A.A. Operating Results

During the period covered by this annual report, we operated and generated revenue from three business segments:

coal products;

railway transportation services; and

methanol and electric power.

Coal Products

We are primarily engaged in the production of premium quality low-sulfur coal, which includesrevolves around the underground coal mining, preparation and processing as well as the railway transportation of coal. Our premium quality coal products primarily include steam coal used by power plants and coking coal and pulverized coal for blast furnace injection used by metallurgical mills. We sold our coal products to domestic customers predominately located in the economically more developed Eastern China, includingtargeting power plants, metallurgical mills, and construction materials andmaterial manufacturers, chemical manufacturers andamong other customers andcustomers. We also export a portion of our coal products to international customers located in East Asia. In 2007, our2008, we produced 36.1 million tonnes of raw coal, production was 35.6and sold 37.6 million tonnes and our totalof coal, sales volume was 35.1 million tonnes.which included 2.6 millions tonnes of externally purchased coal. Domestic

gross sales of coal accounted for 69.8%75.3%, 75.3%88.4% and 88.4%91.1% of our total revenue during 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively; and overseas gross sales of coal conducted through export agentagents and by Yancoal Australia accounted for 28.9%23.5%, 23.5%10.3% and 10.3%7.5%, respectively, of our total revenue for suchthe same periods. In 2008, inter-segment sales of our coal mining segment amounted to RMB131.7 million, which primarily consist sales of coal to our electric power operations.

Railway Transportation Services

We also own a 204 kilometer-long coal transportation railway network which includes the 184consisting of 204 kilometers of railway track, which we acquired from the Controlling Shareholder in 2002.use primarily to transport coal. To supplement and enhance our coal production and sales operations, we provide railway transportation services to our customers, the Controlling Shareholder and its subsidiaries.other independent parties. In 2007,2008, we transported a total of 17.9191.9 million tonnes of goods on our railway network, compared to 19.5178.6 million tonnes in 2007 and 194.9 million tonnes in 2006.

SalesOur railway transportation service income represents our external sales generated from our railway transportation services, consistwhich consists of two components, namely (i) transportation service fees in connection withfor coal purchased on an ex-mine basis, an arrangement where customers bear relatedthe transportation costs for the deliverycost of coal from coal mine;coal; and (ii) transportation services provided toservice fees generated from third parties for the transport of goods onother goods. In 2008, our railway network. In 2007, internal sales derived from transportation services amounted to RMB103.3 million and external salesservice income totaled RMB203.7RMB247.2 million. External sales are recorded as our revenuesrevenue for the period, and the costs of providing these services are recorded as our cost of transportation services. In 2008, inter-segment sales of our railway transportation segment amounted to RMB88.5 million, which primarily consist transportation service fees charged to our coal mining segment on an ex-mine basis. For a presentation ofmore information on segment revenues, results, and inter-segment eliminations and segment balance sheet items, see Note 6 to the Financial Statements.financial statements.

Methanol and Electric Power

We commenced the production of methanol and electric power in September 2008 through Tianhao Chemicals. In 2008 Tianhao Chemicals produced 20,000 tonnes of methanol and sold 16,000 tonnes of the same for RMB38.6 million in revenue. The supporting power plant at Tianhao Chemicals produced 70.38 million kWh and sold 68.74 million kWh of the same for RMB14.9 million in revenue. Due to a key supplier’s closure, we temporarily suspended methanol production at Tianhao Chemicals in October 2008 and have not resumed production as of the date of this annual report. Tianhao Chemical sustained an operating loss of RMB59.1 million in 2008, which represented approximately 0.2% of our revenue in 2008, which did not have a material impact on our results of operation. Based on projected forecast of sales, we do not consider there is any impairment on our fixed assets.

In December 2008, we also commenced trial operations at our Yulin Nenghua methanol plant, which also has a power plant at its facilities. Yulin Nenghua did not sell any methanol in 2008, but sold 181.1 million kWh of electric power for RMB44.9 million in revenue.

The invoiced value of coal sold includes returns, discounts, sales related taxes, port fees and other fees, and, in certain cases, transportation costs payable by customers. Our revenue generated from gross sales of coal representsequals the invoiced value of coal sold, net of returns, discounts and sales related taxes. Net sales of coal represent the invoiced value of coal sold less returns, discounts, sales taxes, port fees and other fees, and if the invoiced value includes transportation costs payable by customers, these cost are deducted from the invoiced price to calculate net sales of coal. Sales taxes and other fees consist primarily of (i) business tax paid at 5% of our revenue, except for revenue from our coal transportation services, which is calculated at 3%; (ii) city construction tax and education surcharge calculated at 7% and 3%, respectively, on the total amount of VAT payable and business tax payable; and (iii) a resource tax calculated at a fixed rate for every tonne of raw coal sold or consumed in the production of clean coal. Our applicable resource tax rate is RMB3.6 per tonne in Shandong Province and RMB3.2 per tonne in Shanxi Province. Such taxes are payable to the local tax bureau.

The following table sets forth our profit and loss accountincome statement and the percentage of each line item to our total revenue:

 

   2005  2006  2007 
   RMB
Million
  %  RMB
Million
  %  RMB
Million
  % 

Total revenue

  12,447.0  100.0  12,944.0  100.0  15,110.5  100.0 

Gross sales of coal

  12,283.6  98.6  12,783.6  98.8  14,906.7  98.7 

Railway transportation service income

  163.4  1.3  160.4  1.2  203.7  1.3 

Transportation costs of coal

  (930.1) (7.5) (936.6) (7.2) (549.8) (3.6)

Cost of sales and service provided

  (5,288.6) (42.5) 6,190.1  (47.8) 7,331.9  (48.5)
                   

Gross profit

  6,228.3  50.7  5,817.3  45.5  7,228.7  48.5 

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  (1,918.8) (15.4) (2,230.1) (17.2) (2,854.7) (18.9)
   2006  2007  2008
   RMB
million
  %  RMB
million
  %  RMB
million
  %

Total revenue

  12,944.0  100.0  15,110.5  100.0  24,903.1  100.0

Gross sales of coal

  12,783.6  98.8  14,906.7  98.7  24,557.5  98.6

  2005 2006 2007   2006 2007 2008 
  RMB
Million
 % RMB
Million
 % RMB
Million
 %   RMB
million
 % RMB
million
 % RMB
million
 % 

Railway transportation service income

  160.4   1.2   203.7   1.3   247.2   1.0  

Gross sales of electric power

  —     —     —     —     59.8   0.2  

Gross sales of methanol

  —     —     —     —     38.6   0.2  

Transportation costs of coal

  (936.6 (7.2 (549.8 (3.6 (508.7 (2.0

Cost of sales and service provided

  (6,190.1 (47.8 (7,331.9 (48.5 (11,816.8 (47.5

Cost of electric power

  —     —     —     —     (88.3 (0.4

Cost of methanol

  —     —     —     —     (37.8 (0.2
                   

Gross profit

  5,817.3   45.5   7,228.7   48.5   12,451.5   50.0  

Selling, general and administrative expenses

  (2,230.1 (17.2 (2,854.7 (18.9 (3,832.0 (15.4

Share of loss of an associate

  —    —    —    —    (2.4) 0.02   —     —     (2.4 0.02   (67.4 (0.2

Other income

  135.0  1.1  165.8  1.3  198.9  1.3   165.8   1.3   198.9   1.3   351.5   1.4  

Interest expense

  (24.6) (0.2) (26.3) (0.2) (27.2) (0.2)  (26.3 (0.2 (27.2 (0.2 (38.4 (0.2
                                      

Profit before income taxes

  4,420.0  35.5  3,726.6  28.8  4,543.3  30.1   3,726.6   28.8   4,543.3   30.1   8,865.2   35.6  

Income taxes

  (1,538.0) (12.4) (1,354.7) (10.5) (1,315.5) (8.7)  (1,354.7 (10.5 (1,315.5 (8.7 (2,385.6 (9.6
                                      

Profit for the year

  2,881.9  23.2  2,372.0  18.3  3,227.8  21.4   2,372.0   18.3   3,227.8   21.4   6,479.6   26.0  
                                      

The following discussion and analysis are based on financial statements prepared in accordance with the IFRS.

Year Ended December 31, 2008 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2007

Total revenue

Our total revenue in 2008 increased by RMB9,792.6 million, or 64.8%, from RMB15,110.5 million in 2007 to RMB24,903.1 million, primarily due to the increase in the revenue from coal products segment. In addition, the increase in our railway transportation service income and, to a lesser extent, our gross sales of methanol and electricity power also contributed to the increase of our total revenue.

Gross sales of coal represent the invoiced value of coal sold, net of returns, discounts and sales related taxes. Our gross sales of coal increased by RMB9,650.8 million, or 64.7%, from RMB14,906.7 million in 2007 to RMB24,557.5 million in 2008. The increase in gross sales of coal was primarily due to the increased average selling price of our coal products as well as, to a lesser extent, the increase in the sales volume of coal. The average price of our Company’s coal products increased 56.6% in 2008 compared with our average price in 2007. The increase in the average selling price of our coal product reflected the increase in domestic coal prices, which was consistent with the significant price increases in the international coal market in the first three quarters of 2008 and strong domestic demand growth. Total sales volume of our coal products increased by 7.0% from 35.1 million tonnes to 37.6 million tonnes, which primarily consisted of the coal products we purchased from external sources for resale purposes, due to strong market demand. Prior to the significant increase in our revenue generated from the sales of externally purchased coal in 2008, which amounted to approximately RMB1,889.0 million, we record such revenue under other income in our income statement. The amount of gross sales of externally purchased coal in 2007 and 2006 were approximately RMB395.8 million and RMB347.9 million, respectively. No reclassification for previous periods has been made because of immateriality.

Our railway transportation service income was RMB247.2 million in 2008, representing an increase of RMB43.5 million, or 21.3%, from RMB203.7 million in 2007. The increase was primarily due to an approximate 2.1 million tonne increase in the coal transported on our railway network for coal sales where transportation expenses were charged on an ex-mine basis to customers.

In 2008, we generated RMB59.8 million and RMB38.6 million from our new methanol and electric power businesses, respectively. Revenue from these two businesses collectively did not represent a significant portion of our total revenue in 2008. However, we did not commence methanol production until the last quarter of 2008 and expect methanol sales to increase in future periods when the domestic methanol market recovers.

Transportation costs of coal

Transportation costs of coal primarily consist of railway, waterway and roadway transportation costs charged by carriers who deliver our coal products to our customers. Our transportation costs of coal decreased by RMB41.1 million, or 7.5%, from RMB549.8 million in 2007 to RMB508.7 million in 2008. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in our export sales (excluding the sales conducted by Yancoal Australia), for which we incurred transportation expenses to deliver our coal products on the PRC national railway network to ports.

Net sales of coal represent the invoiced value of coal sold less returns, discounts, sales taxes, port fees and other fees. In transactions where the invoiced value includes transportation costs payable by customers, such transportation costs are deducted from the invoiced price to calculate net sales of coal. Net sales of coal increased by RMB9,691.9 million, or 67.5%, from RMB14,356.9 million in 2007 to RMB24,048.8 million in 2008 primarily due to the increase in our gross sales of coal and the decrease in transportation costs of coal.

Cost of sales and service provided

Our cost of sales and service provided represents the direct costs of our coal production and transportation services, which primarily consists of materials costs, wages and employee benefits, depreciation and amortization expenses, land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs and cost of traded coal. In 2008, our total cost of sales and service provided increased by RMB4,484.9 million, or 61.2%, to RMB11,816.8 million from RMB7,331.9 million in 2007.

The increase in our cost of sales and service provided was primarily due to (i) the significant increase in land subsidies, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs; (ii) an addition of RMB1,810.3 million as cost of traded coal, which represented the amount we paid for externally purchased coal; and (iii) the increase in cost of materials due to the increase in commodity prices. The increase was partly offset by the allocation of repair and maintenance expenses to selling, general and administrative expenses, which was previously charged to cost of sales. Repair and maintenance expenses in 2008 represented mainly repairs to general property, plant and equipment not directly related to mining equipment and were not directly related to our coal sales. The amounts reclassified were immaterial individually and collectively in relation to our income statement as a whole, so previous periods were not adjusted.

The cost per tonne of the Company’s coal products based on the net sales of coal was RMB274.36 in 2008, representing an increase of RMB78.36, or 40.0%, compared with RMB196.0 in 2007. This increase in cost per tonne of coal sold was mainly attributable to (i) the increase in land subsidence ground structure compensation expenses due to government policy changes in 2008 that increased the basis for calculating compensation and reclamation costs and enlarged the area surrounding our mining sites that is subject to reclamation and (ii) the increase in restoration and rehabilitation costs and ancillary compensation, such as the costs of relocating inhabitants and compensating them for their property losses. See “ — Critical Accounting Policies — Provision for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs”. Our cost per tonne of coal also increased because of the increase in cost of materials resulting from higher commodity prices and the increase in employee wages.

Cost of electric power

Our cost of electric power operations primarily represents raw material and labor costs. In 2008, when we commenced the operation of power generation business, our cost of power generation was RMB88.3 million.

Cost of methanol

Our cost of methanol primarily represents raw materials, labor costs and other manufacturing overhead. In 2008, when we commenced the methanol production business, our cost of methanol production was RMB37.8 million.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Our selling, general and administrative expenses was RMB3,832.0 million in 2008, representing an increase of RMB977.4 million, or 34.2%, from RMB2,854.7 million in 2007. The increase in our selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to (i) an addition of RMB390.4 million in repair and maintenance expenses that resulted from a change in accounting practice to charge repair and maintenance expenses (which was previously charged to our cost of sales and services provided) to selling, general and administrative expenses in 2008, (ii) the increase in wage and employee benefit expenses for our sales and administrative staffs of RMB281.0 million that resulted from the increase in the average salaries as well as the number of our marketing and administrative staff member, (iii) the loss of approximately RMB198.5 million with respect to book value of the liabilities of Yancoal Australia denominated in US dollar, which was primarily due to the depreciation of Australian dollars against U.S. dollar and (iv) provisions for coal price adjustment funds at RMB8 per tonne that are levied by the government of Jining city, Shandong Province since August 2007.

Share of loss of an associate

Our share of loss of an associate was RMB67.4 million in 2008, representing an significant increase of RMB64.9 million, from RMB2.4 million in 2007. The increase was primarily due to our share of loss of approximately RMB67.4 million in Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited, which was primarily due to the significant increase of steam coal price in the first three quarters of 2008, based on our relative ownership interest in the associate company.

Other income

Our other income increased by RMB152.6 million, or 76.7%, to RMB351.5 million in 2008 from RMB198.9 million in 2007. The increase was primarily due to the RMB132.2 million increase in interest income we recovered from a defaulted entrusted loan (See “Item 8. Financial Information – Legal Proceedings and Arbitration”) and the RMB39.4 million increase in interest income from bank deposits. Our other income in 2007 included the net profit of our sales of externally purchased coal in 2007, calculated by gross sales of externally purchased coal net of cost for externally purchased coal and other relevant costs and expenses, was approximately RMB20.0 million. Sales of externally purchased coal in 2008 included in gross sales of coal. See “— Total revenue” above.

Interest expenses

Our interest expenses increased by RMB11.1 million, or 40.9%, from RMB27.2 million in 2007 to RMB38.4 million in 2008. The increase was primarily due to the interest payments of approximately RMB12.0 million for bank borrowings of Yancoal Australia, which was repaid before December 31, 2008.

Profit before income tax

As a result of the foregoing, our profit before income taxes increased by RMB4,321.9 million, or 95.1%, from RMB4,543.3 million in 2007 to RMB8,865.2 million in 2008.

Income tax expenses

Our income tax expenses increased by RMB1,070.1 million, or 81.3%, to RMB2,385.6 million in 2008 despite the enactment of a new income tax law on January 1, 2008 that lowered our tax rate from 33% to 25%. The increase was primarily reflected a 95.1% increase in our taxable income. The increase has been partially offset by an increase in deferred tax assets arising from an increase in temporary difference in respect of unpaid provision of salaries and wages and provision of compensation fees for mining rights and land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environment costs, which were charged but not paid as of the end of the year.

Profit for the year

As a result, our profit for the year increased by RMB3,251.8 million, or 100.7%, to RMB6,479.6 million in 2008 from RMB3,227.8 million in 2007.

Year Ended December 31, 2007 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2006

Total revenue

Our total revenue in 2007 increased by RMB2,166.5 million, or 16.7%, from RMB12,944.0 million in 2006 to RMB15,110.5 million in 2007, primarily due to the increase in our gross sales of coal. The increase in our railway transportation service income also contributed to the increases of our total revenue.

Gross sales of coal represent the invoiced value of coal sold, net of returns, discounts and sales related taxes. Our gross sales of coal increased by RMB2,123.2 million, or 16.6%, from RMB12,783.6 million in 2006 to RMB14,906.7 million in 2007. The increase in gross sales of coal was primarily due to the increased average selling price of our coal products as well as the increase in the sales volume of coal. The increase in the average selling price of our coal product reflected the increase in domestic coal prices, which was attributable in part to growing domestic demand and a shortage in coal supply. In addition, we also increased our sales of coal to construction materials and chemical manufacturers, who generally purchase coal at a higher price than power plants. TotalOur total sales volume of our coal products increased by 1.4%1.3% from 34.6 million tonnes to 35.1 million tonnes primarily due to the increased coal sales volume offrom Shanxi Nenghua and Yancoal Australia. These two mines commenced commercial production in the fourth quarter of 2006 and substantially increased their 2007 coal sales volume by 1.1 million tonnes and 1.2 million tonnes, respectively, from the prior year. However, the increases in sales volume of the coal products from these two newly operated mines were offset by the decreased coal sales volume of approximately 1.8 million tonnes by our Six Coal Mines.

Our railway transportation service income was RMB203.7 million in 2007, representing an increase of RMB43.3 million, or 27.0%, from RMB160.4 million in 2006. The increase was primarily due to an increase in the volume of coal transported on our railway network for coal sales where transportation expenses were charged on an ex-mine basis to customers.

As we did not commence our methanol and electric power businesses until 2008, no comparative analysis of that segment is provided.

Transportation costs of coal

Transportation costs of coal primarily consist of railway, waterway and roadway transportation costs charged by carriers who deliver our coal products to our customers. Our transportation costs of coal decreased by RMB386.8 million, or 41.3%, from RMB936.6 million in 2006 to RMB549.8 million in 2007. The decrease was primarily due to the decrease in our export sales (excluding the sales conducted by Yancoal Australia), for which we used the PRC national railway network to transport our coal products to ports and incurred related transportation expenses.

Net sales of coal represent the invoiced value of coal sold less returns, discounts, sales taxes, port fees and other fees. In transactions where the invoiced value includes transportation costs payable by customers, such transportation costs are deducted from the invoiced price to calculate net sales of coal. Net sales of coal increased by RMB2,510.0 million, or 21.2%, from RMB11,846.9 million in 2006 to RMB14,356.9 million in 2007 primarily due to the increase in our gross sales of coal and the decrease in transportation costs of coal.

Cost of sales and service provided

Our cost of sales and service provided represents the direct costs of our coal production and transportation services, which primarily consists of materials cost, wages and employee benefits, depreciation and amortization expenses, land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs, repairs and maintenance costs and transportation costs. In 2007, our total cost of sales and service provided increased by RMB1,141.9 million, or 18.4%, to RMB7,331.9 million from RMB6,190.1 million in 2006.

The increase in our cost of sales and service provided was primarily due to (i) the increase in wages and employee benefits; (ii) an increase in depreciation expenses; and (iii) the increase in price of the materials used for the repair and maintenance of our assets.

The cost per tonne of the Company’s coal products based on the net sales of coal was RMB196.0 in 2007, representing an increase of RMB25.9, or 15.2%, compared with RMB170.2 in 2006. This increase in cost per tonne of coal sold was attributable to a number of internal and external factors, including

(i) the changeincrease in accounting practice to charge retirement insurance and wage surcharge as a cost of sales and service provided, which was previously recorded under selling, general and administrative expenses ,depreciation expense, (ii) the Company’s decrease in salesproduction volume from the previous year, (iii) the increase in employees’ wages and (iv) the increase in price of the materials used for the repair and maintenance of our assets.

In 2007, the Company classified retirement insurance costs relating to coal mining employees as cost of sales. These amounts were inadvertently classified as selling, general and administrative expenses in 2005 and 2006 but have not been reclassified to cost of sales because the amounts were immaterial.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Our selling, general and administrative expenses was RMB2,854.7 million in 2007, representing an increase of RMB624.6 million, or 28.0%, from RMB2,230.1 million in 2006. The increase in our selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to (i) an increase of RMB599.3 million in the selling, general and administrative expenses of Yanzhou Coal, which was mainly attributable to an increase in employee wages write-off expenses forand partly attributable to obsolete coal pillars and other mine structurestructures of RMB339.7 million written off and provisions for price adjustment funds that is levied on commodity manufacturers to stabilize commodity prices,local government levy of RMB105.4 million computed at 2.9% of the coal sales of Yanzhou Coal, (ii) the addition of Shanxi Nenghua’s selling, general and administrative expense of RMB63.8 million (iii) the organization cost and administration expenses of our projects under construction and other administrative expenses of RMB99.6 million. However, the increases were partly offset by the decrease of RMB85.1 million in the selling, general and administrative expenses of Yancoal Australia in 2007 from the prior year. The change in accounting practice to chargingclassification of retirement insurance and wage surcharge as a cost of sales and service provided, which was previously recorded under selling, general and administrative expenses also offset RMB408.1 million of the increase in our selling, general and administrative expenses in 2007.

Share of loss of an associate

Our share of loss of an associate was RMB2.4 million in 2007, which was primarily due to our share of loss in Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited based on our relative ownership interest in the associate company.

Other income

Our other income increased by RMB33.1 million, or 20.0%, to RMB198.9 million in 2007 from RMB165.8 million in 2006. The increase was primarily due to the RMB14.0 million increase in gain on sales of auxiliary material and accessories; and the RMB9.2 million increase in interest income from bank deposits.

Interest expenses

Our interest expenses increased by RMB0.9 million, or 3.3%, from RMB26.3 million in 2006 to RMB27.2 million in 2007. The increase was primarily due to interest payments for two long-term loans borrowed by Shanxi Nenghua, which we acquired in 2006.

Profit before income tax

As a result of the foregoing, our profit before income taxes increased by RMB816.7 million, or 21.9%, from RMB3,726.6 million in 2006 to RMB4,543.3 million in 2007.

Income tax expenses

Our income tax expenses decreased by RMB39.1 million, or 2.9%, from RMB1,354.7 million in 2006 to RMB1,315.5 million in 2007. The decrease was primarily due to the over-provision in prior years and the adjustment of deferred tax balance to reflect the tax rates that are expected to apply during the respective periods when the asset is realized or the liability is settled. Pursuant to the new income tax law in the PRC, the applicable income tax rate will be reduced from 33% to 25% beginning January 1, 2008.

Profit for the year

As a result, our profit for the year increased by RMB857.5 million, or 36.1%, to RMB3,227.8 million in 2007 from RMB2,372.0 million in 2006.

Year Ended December 31, 2006 Compared with Year Ended December 31, 2005

Total revenue

Our total revenue in 2006 increased by RMB496.9 million, or 4.0%, to RMB12,944.0 million from RMB12,447.0 million in 2005, primarily due to the increase in our gross sales of coal. The increase in our total revenue was slightly offset by the decrease in our railway transportation service income.

Gross sales of coal represent the invoiced value of coal sold, net of returns, discounts and sales related taxes. Our gross sales of coal increased by RMB500.0 million, or 4.1%, from RMB12,283.6 million in 2005 to RMB12783.6 million in 2006. The increase in gross sales of coal was primarily due to the increase in our coal sales volume, partly offset by the decreased average selling price of the Company’s coal products. In 2006, we sold 34.7 million tonnes of coal, representing an increase of 2.2 million tonnes, or 6.7%, from 2005. The increase was a result of (i) the 1.9 million tonnes, or 5.7%, increase in the coal sales volume of the Six Coal Mines (ii) the 200,000 tonnes of coal sold by Yancoal Australia, and (iii) the 100,000 million tonnes of coal sold by Shanxi Nenghua. Yancoal Australia and Shanxi Nenghua commenced their commercial production in the forth quarter of 2006. The decrease in average coal sales price of the Company was primarily due to the corresponding decrease in export coal prices.

Our railway transportation service income was RMB160.4 million in 2006, representing a decrease of RMB3.0 million, or 1.9%, from RMB163.4 million in 2005. The decrease was primarily due to a decrease in the volume of coal transported on our railway network for coal sales where transportation expenses were charged on an ex-mine basis to customers.

Transportation costs of coal

Transportation costs of coal primarily consist of railway, waterway and roadway transportation costs charged by carriers who deliver our coal products to our customers. Our transportation costs for our coal sales slightly increased from RMB930.0 million in 2005 to RMB936.6 million in 2006.

Net sales of coal represent the invoiced value of coal sold less returns, discounts, sales taxes, port fees and other fees. In transactions where the invoiced value includes transportation costs payable by customers, such transportation costs are deducted from the invoiced price to calculate net sales of coal. Net sales of coal increased by RMB493.5 million, or 4.3%, from RMB11,353.5 million in 2005 to RMB11,846.9 million in 2006 primarily due to the increase in gross sales of coal.

Cost of sales and service provided

Our cost of sales and service provided represents the direct costs of our coal production and transportation services, which include primarily materials cost, wages and employee benefits, depreciation and amortization expenses, land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs, repairs and maintenance costs and transportation costs. Our total cost of sales and service provided increased by RMB901.5 million, or 17.0%, to RMB6,190.1 million in 2006 from RMB5,288.6 million in 2005.

The increase in our cost of sales and service provided was primarily due to (i) the increase in commodity prices, (ii) the increase in employees’ wages; (iii) the increase in expenditures on safety measures, and (iv) the consolidation of the cost of coal sales of our subsidiaries that were acquired by us or put into operation after 2005.

The cost per tonne of the Company’s coal products based on the net sales of coal was RMB170.2, an increase of RMB10.6, or 6.6%, compared with RMB159.6 in 2005. This increase in cost per tonne of coal sold was attributable to certain internal and external factors, including increases in raw material prices, employees’ wages, subsidence fees as a result of the increased efforts to relocate communities located above our coal fields and more frequent changes in underground coal work-faces.

Selling, general and administrative expenses

Our selling, general and administrative expenses were RMB2,230.1 million in 2006, representing an increase of RMB311.3 million, or 16.2%, from RMB1,918.8 million in 2005. The increase in our selling, general and administrative expenses was primarily due to (i) the increase of RMB378.0 million in the selling, general and administrative expenses of Yanzhou Coal, which was mainly attributable to the increase in employees’ insurance, wages and depreciation expenses, and (ii) the addition of RMB5.1 million that represented the selling, general and administrative expenses of Shanxi Nenghua. However, the increases were partly offset by the decrease of RMB42.0 million in selling, general and administrative expenses of Yancoal Australia from 2005 when we first acquired the mine.

Other income

Our other income increased by RMB30.8 million or 22.8%, to RMB165.8 million in 2006 from RMB135.0 million in 2005. The increase was mainly due to a RMB12.9 million increase in gain on sales of material and fittings and a RMB8.4 million increase in interest income from bank deposits.

Interest expenses

Our interest expenses increased by RMB1.7 million, or 7.1%, to RMB26.3 million in 2006, from RMB24.6 million in 2005. The increase was primarily due to the interest payments for two long-term loans borrowed by Shanxi Nenghua, which we acquired in 2006.

Profit before income taxes

As a result of the foregoing, our profit before income taxes decreased by RMB693.4 million, or 15.7%, from RMB4,420.0 million in 2005 to RMB3,726.6 million in 2006.

Income tax expenses

Our income tax expenses decreased by RMB183.3 million, or 12.0%, from RMB1,538.0 million in 2005 to RMB1,354.7 million in 2006, primarily due to the decrease of our profit before income tax of RMB693.3 million.

Profit for the year

As a result of the foregoing, our profit for the year decreased by RMB510.0 million, or 17.7%, to RMB2,372.0 million in 2006 from RMB2,881.9 million in 2005.

B. Liquidity and Capital Resources

B.Liquidity and Capital Resources

Our principal sources of cash in 20072008 were cash generated from operating activities and, bank borrowings.to a lesser extent, the principal and interest recovered from an entrusted loan that was in default. See “Item 8. — Financial Information – Legal Proceedings and Arbitration”. In 2007,2008, we primarily used cash to fund our working capital, purchases property, plants and equipment, distribute shareholders’shareholder dividends and invest in the establishmentacquisition of Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited.

Zhaolou Coal Mine.

Cash Flows

The following table sets forth our cash flow for each of the three years ended December 31, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007:2008:

 

  Year ended December 31,   Year ended December 31, 
  2005 2006 2007   2006 2007 2008 
  (RMB’000) (RMB’000) (RMB’000)   (RMB’000) (RMB’000) (RMB’000) 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

  5,216,738  5,885,581  4,715,945   5,885,581   4,715,945   4,424,561  

Net cash generated from operating activities

  3,939,274  3,767,156  4,558,649   3,767,156   4,558,649   7,095,477  

Net cash used in investing activities

  (2,262,466) (3,625,523) (3,790,945)  (3,625,523 (3,790,945 (2,091,489

Net cash generated from / (used in) financing activities

  (1,009,279) (1,291,549) (1,018,699)

Net increase/ (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

  667,529  (1,149,916) (250,995)

Net cash used in financing activities

  (1,291,549 (1,018,699 (921,668

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

  (1,149,916 (250,995 4,082,320  

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

  5,885,581  4,715,945  4,424,561   4,715,945   4,424,561   8,439,578  

Cash flow from operating activities

We had a net cash inflow from operating activities of RMB7,095.5 million in 2008 as a result of our cash generated from operations of RMB9,056.6 million less interest and income tax we paid in 2008. Our cash generated from operating activities in 2008 mainly consisted of (i) our operating cash flows before movements in working capital of RMB10,150.5 million, which consisted RMB8,865.2 million as profit before income taxes and was partly adjusted by depreciation of property, plant and equipment and impairment loss on property, plant and equipment; (ii) an increase in movement in land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental cost of RMB431.3 million and (iii) an increase in bills and account payable of RMB263.8 million. Our net cash from operating activities was partly offset by (i) an increase in prepayments and other current assets of RMB1,242.0 million; (ii) an increase in inventories of RMB405.2 million; and (iii) an increase in bills and accounts receivable of RMB217.0 million.

We had a net cash inflow from operating activities of RMB4,558.6 million in 2007 as a result of our cash generated from operations of RMB5,992.7 million less interest and income tax we paid in 2007. Our cash generated from operating activities in 2007 mainly consistconsisted of (i) our operating cash flows before movements in working capital of RMB6,042.7 million, which consistconsisted RMB4,543.3 million as profit before income taxes and was partly adjusted by depreciation of property, plant and equipment and impairment loss on property, plant and equipment; and (ii) an increase in other payables and accrued expenses of RMB622.1 million. Our net cash from operating activities was partly offset by (i) an increase in bills and accounts receivable of RMB536.7 million; (ii) a decrease in amount due to our Parent Company and its subsidiaries of RMB315.1 million; and (iii) an increase in prepayments and other receivablescurrent assets of RMB108.6 million.

We had a net cash inflow from operating activities of RMB3,767.2 million in 2006 as a result of our cash generated from operation of RMB5,472.1 million less interest and income tax we paid in 2006. Our cash generated from operating activities in 2006 mainly consistconsisted of (i) our operating cash flows before movements in working capital of RMB4,794.3 million, which consistconsisted RMB3,726.6 million as profit before income taxes and was partly adjusted by depreciation of property, plant and equipment, impairment loss on property, plant and equipment and interest income; (ii) an increase in amount due to our Parent Company and its subsidiaries of RMB471.5 million; and (iii) an increase in bills and accounts payable of RMB235.9 million. Our net cash from operating activities was partly offset by (i) the increase in inventories of RMB66.2 million; and (ii) the increase in prepayment for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental cost of RMB55.4 million.

We had net cash inflow from operating activities of RMB3,939.3 million in 2005 as a result of our cash generated from operation of RMB5,164.2 million less interest and income tax we paid in 2005. Our cash generated from operating activities in 2005 mainly consist of (i) our operating cash flows before movements in working capital of RMB5,320.8 million, which consist RMB4,420.0 million as profit before income taxes and was partly adjusted by depreciation of property, plant and equipment and interest income; (ii) an increase in amount due to our Parent Company and its subsidiaries of RMB479.1 million; and (iii) a decrease in amount due from our Parent Company and its subsidiaries of RMB213.9 million. Our net cash from operating activities was partly offset by (i) an increase in bills and accounts receivable of RMB1,001.0 million; and (ii) an increase in prepayment for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental cost of RMB53.4 million.

Cash flows from investing activities

Our net cash used in investing activities was RMB2,091.5 million in 2008. Net cash used in investing activities primarily consisted of (i) the capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment of approximately of RMB2,027.0 million; and (ii) our acquisition of mining right in Zhaolou Coal Mine for RMB747.3 million. The increase in net cash used in investing activities was partially offset by (i) a decrease in other loan receivables of RMB640.0 million resulting from our recovery of the principal amount entrusted loan that was in default; and (ii) a decrease in term deposits of RMB141.6 million.

Our net cash used in investing activities was RMB3,790.9 million in 2007. Net cash used in investing activities primarily consisted of (i) the capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment of approximately of RMB2,722.6RMB2,772.6 million; and (ii) our investment of RMB900.0 million in an associate, Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited, in 2007 and (iii) our further acquisition of Shanxi Nenghua and its subsidiaries, the deposit made for the investment in Yushuwan Coal Mine Company and the acquisition of mining rights in Southland Coal Mine, in the amount of RMB15.0 million, RMB20.5 million and RMB61.9 million, respectively. The increase in net cash used in investing activities was partially offset by (i) a decrease in restricted cash of RMB59.4 million; and (ii) the proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment of RMB31.6 million.

Our net cash used in investing activities was RMB3,625.5 million in 2006. Net cash used in investing activities primarily consisted of (i) the capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment of approximately of RMB3,137.1 million; (ii) our acquisition of Shanxi Nenghua of RMB444.2 million; and (iii) the deposit of RMB97.4 million we made for our investment in Yushuwan Coal Mine Company.investment. The increase in net cash used in investing activities was partially offset by (i) a decrease in term deposits of RMB131.8 million; and (ii) the proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment of RMB14.2 million.

Cash flows from financing activities

Our net cash used in investingfinancing activities in 2008 was RMB2,262.5RMB921.7 million, in 2005. Net cash used in investing activitiesreflecting primarily consisted of (i) the capital expenditures for property, plant and equipmentpayment of approximatelydividends of RMB1,315.4RMB836.1 million; and (ii) the increase in term depositsrepayment of 1,326.3bank borrowings of RMB72.0 million. The increase in net cash used in investing activities was partially offset by (i) a decrease in other loan receivables of RMB210.0 million; and (ii) the cash inflow of RMB170.2 million from our acquisition of Heze Nenghua, which resulted in our assumption of Heze Nenghua’s bank balance and cash of RMB180.3 million.

Cash flows from financing activities

Our net cash used in financing activities in 2007 was RMB1,018.7 million, reflecting primarily (i) the payment of dividends of RMB983.7 million; and (ii) the repayment of bank borrowings of RMB50.0 million.

Our net cash used in financing activities was RMB1,291.5 million in 2006, reflecting primarily (i) the payment of dividends of RMB1,082.0 million; and (ii) the repayment of bank borrowings of RMB200.0 million.

Our net cash used in financing activities was RMB1,009.3 million in 2005, reflecting primarily (i) the payment of dividends of RMB799.2 million; and (ii) the repayment of bank borrowings of RMB200.0 million.

Working Capital and Liabilities

We generally operate withhave historically maintained sufficient working capital.capital for our daily operations. Our principal sourcessource of cash in 2007 were2008 was cash generated from operating activities.activities and, to a lesser extent, the principal and interest recovered from an entrusted loan that was in default.

As of December 31, 2007,2008, our current assets exceed our current liabilities by RMB5,808.8 million.RMB9,697.4 million, representing an increase of 66.9% from the prior year. This significant increase in current assets was primarily the result of a RMB4,015.0 million, or 90.7%, increase in our bank balances and cash and a RMB1,151.9 million addition in prepayments for the relocation of inhabitants around our mining site. Our current liabilities increased by RMB 271.4RMB1,197.5 million from RMB3,828.0 million in 2006 to RMB4,099.5 million in 2007.2007 to RMB5,297.0 million in 2008. The increase in current liabilities was primarily due to (i) the increase in provision for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs of otherRMB431.3 million; (ii) the increase in tax payables and accrued expenses of RMB771.4RMB409.9 million and partly offset by (i)(iii) the decrease in amount due to our parent company and its subsidiaries of RMB313.1 million and (ii) the decreaseincrease in bills and accounts payable of RMB88.2RMB252.6 million.

As of December 31, 20072008 and 2006,2007, we had cash and cash equivalents of RMB4,424.6RMB8,439.6 million and RMB4,715.9RMB4,424.6 million, respectively. As of December 31, 2007,2008, our total cash and cash equivalent denominated in Renminbi amounted to RMB3,590.2RMB7,332.0 million and our cash and cash equivalent denominated in U.S. dollars, HK dollar,dollars, Australian dollardollars and Euro amounted to RMB834.4RMB1,107.6 million.

As of December 31, 20062008 and 2007, we had outstanding bank borrowings of RMB380.0RMB258.0 million and RMB330.0 million, respectively. The maturity profile of our bank borrowings as of December 31, 20062007 and 20072008 was as follows:

 

   As of December 31
   2006  2007
   (RMB’000)

Less than one year

  50,000  72,000

One to three years

  154,000  104,000

Three to five years

  44,000  44,000

More than five years

  132,000  110,000

Total

  380,000  330,000

   As of December 31
   2007  2008
   (RMB’000)

Less than one year

  72,000  82,000

One to three years

  104,000  44,000

Three to five years

  44,000  44,000

More than five years

  110,000  88,000

Total

  330,000  258,000

As of December 31, 2007,2008, the interest rate relating to our bank borrowings ranges from 6.84%5.31% to 7.09%5.94% per annum, which will be subject to adjustment based on the interest rate set by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”). As of the date of this Annual Report,annual report, our bank borrowings were denominated in Renminbi. The interest expenses associated with our bank borrowings may impair our future profitability.

We expect that cash from operations and bank borrowings will be sufficient to meet our operating cash flow requirements, although certain events that materially and adversely affect our operating results may also have a negative impact on our liquidity.

Capital Expenditure

Our principal capital expenditure, which was incurred for the purchase and construction of property, machinery and equipment decreased RMB435.4by RMB861.8 million from RMB3,363.4 million in 2006 to RMB2,928.0 million in 2007 to RMB2,066.2 million in 2008, among which, (i) capital expenditure for the construction of property decreased by RMB255.8RMB880.5 million; and (ii) capital expenditure for machinery and equipment decreasedincreased by RMB179.6RMB26.1 million. These decreases were primarily due to the decrease in the number of projects under construction and purchases of machinery and equipment as compared with that in 2006.2007.

Our estimated capital expenditure for 20082009 is RMB3,679.0RMB2,434.6 million, which consist of: (i) approximately RMB1,137.2RMB1,259.5 million for the purchase and construction of property, machinery and equipment for our Six Coal Mines and Railway Assets; and (ii) approximately RMB2,541.8RMB1,175.1 million for external development projects. The estimated capital expenditure for these external projects include: (a) approximately RMB1,080.8RMB349.2 million for investment in a 600,000-tonne capacity methanol facility for Yulin Nenghua in Shaanxi Province; (b) approximately RMB1,241.7RMB503.7 million for investment in Zhaolou Coal Mine in Shandong Province; (c) approximately RMB194.2RMB58.6 million for investment in a 100,000-tonne100,000 tonne capacity methanol facility for Tianhao Chemicals in Shanxi Province; and (d) approximately RMB25.2RMB198.2 million for investment in the construction of Austar Coal Mine in Australia.Australia; and (e) approximately RMB65.4 million for investment in the power generating facility of Hua Ju Energy. Considering the sufficiency in our cash flow and capital sources, we believe that we will have sufficient capital to satisfy our operational and development needs.

C. Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, Etc.

C.Research and Development, Patents and Licenses, Etc.

One of our core strategies is to become a technology-driven enterprise. To this end, we have implemented a multi-tiered research and development initiative that involves collaboration among a technology committee, which directs our research and development efforts; aan expert committee, which provides consulting and advisory services; our technology center which manages and oversees our research and development efforts; and our various research institutes, which will engage in research and development. We have focused our efforts on strengthening environmental protection capabilities and improving our energy conservation technologies to remain compliant with the relevant environmental requirements of each of our operations and projects. Our expenditures for research and development were RMB45.0 million, RMB46.0 million, and RMB79.0 million and RMB106.5 million, in 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively, accounting for 0.4%, 0.4%0.5% and 0.5%0.4%, respectively, of our total revenue for the same periods.

Our research and development efforts on mining technology have contributed to increases in production. Our Predecessorpredecessor adopted the longwall caving mining method in 1992. Thereafter, our research and development personnel concentrated on modifying and updating this method, taking into account the special geological conditions of our mining operations in order to maximize our production. Largely because of our research and development personnel’s efforts, we have been able to:

 

increase production efficiency by utilizing mining extracting equipment with improved technology;

extend the length of certain longwall work-faces to approximately 300 meters, thereby reducing our costs for tunneling and supports;

 

reduce the number of coal pillars required to support mining areas and enhance our recovery rate for coal mining as well as increase our coal production;

improve the roof support and auxiliary coal transportation systems of our mining systems to reduce costs; and

 

complete the two national research initiatives for the research of “equipment coordination and technology for 6Mt/a complex-mechanized top coal caving workface” and the “high-efficient intensive complex-mechanized top coal caving technology and its key equipment” and successfully developed a two-pillar hydraulic shield support for a top coal caving process.

We are one of the world’s leading suppliers of coal products that are extracted primarily using longwall caving technology. Our industry-leading technology for longwall caving mining is patented in the PRC and Australia. We believe the use of our longwall caving extraction technology can reducereduces the per tonne production cost of our coal.operations.

Our principleprincipal strategy is to further strengthen our competitive advance in core technologies. We intend to upgrade and improve our longwall caving extraction technology and related equipment as well as mining methods for medium and thick coal seams. We intend to upgrade outdated equipment as part of our effortefforts to improve our longwallfully-mechanized caving operations. We currently focus our researchoperations and development efforts on the development of a complete set of equipment and technology for a six million tonnes fully-automated and mechanized top coal caving work-face as well as a full set of equipment for the rapid excavation of coal tunnels in order to maintain our competitive advantage in mining technologies.technological advantage.

D. Trend Information

D.Trend Information

Outlook for 2008the coal market

TheAs a result of the global financial crisis, demand in the domestic and international coal markets is expected to deteriorate.

In the domestic coal market, the demand has been generally stable, as improvements in logistics and supply allocation continued to increase the effective supply of coal is approximately at the same level as and sufficientin China that can reach end-users. However, shortages of coal may continue to meet domestic demand. We expect coal prices to remain at high levels, particularly the price of high quality thermal coal, which is required for coal power generation. In addition, the price of clean coking coal, which isoccur occasionally in short supply,certain regions or during peak demand periods. The slowdown in economic growth is expected to increase.

China’s projectedresult in reduced demand for coal. Meanwhile, the implementation of a series of policies by the PRC Government to stimulate domestic demand and economic growth rate of over 8% is expected to sustain current levels ofgradually drive coal demand by the power generation, metallurgy, construction materials, chemicals and othermajor coal consumption industries. TheChina’s domestic coal supply is expected to increase dueas new coal mines commence production, coal exports fall, and coal imports increase. However, the logistical deficiencies that exist in coal production, transportation and demand, despites recent improvements in transportation capacity, will continue to additional production from newly constructedlimit producers’ ability to supply coal minesefficiently to customers. The reform on coal resource taxes, environment protection and energy-saving policies, as well as policies implementedprice protection and production limitation measures taken by the PRC Government to reduce coal export and to increase coal import at the same time. No significant developments to increase domestic coal transportation capacity are expected in the short term. The PRC Government will continue to regulate the shutting down ofcertain coal mines, that fail to meet relevant industry standards and regulations and strictly enforce more stringent safety requirements. Awill stabilize coal industry policy promulgated by the State Development and Reform Commission further limits entry into the coal mining industry, regulates the industry’s development, improves exit mechanism and sets out an industry development framework that favors the development of large scale coal groups and promotes the consolidation of China’s coal industry and enhances the competitiveness of large-scale coal enterprises.prices. The PRC Government has suspended the approvalreview of new applications for exploration rights for coal resources, enhanced supervisory efforts for coal mining safety, promoted consolidation among coal producers, and mining rights to prevent excessivesupported the establishment of coal production capacity resulting from over-investment and to ensure the steady development ofconglomerates. These measure by the PRC Government are expected to stabilize the domestic coal market.market and promote stable development in the coal industry.

The insufficient supply of coalWith weakening demand in the international coal market, is expected to increase coal spot prices to levels significantly higher than those in 2007.have fallen steadily. As the prices of international oil and natural gas reach record-high levels, the attractiveness of coal as a source ofglobal economic growth slowed, overall demand for energy will be further enhanced. The export sales growth ofhas been reduced accordingly. Among the major coal suppliers worldwide is expected to slow. Australia’sexport countries in the world, port transportation capacities in Australia and South Africa have improved, which have increased their coal export is limited bycapabilities. Vietnam lowered its port capacity,coal export duties, while Indonesia’s domestic demand for coal fell. These factors collectively increased coal supplies available to the Asia Pacific region. China and India have increased their coal import volume, while Japan, Korea, Taiwan, among other major coal importing regions, have experienced weakened coal demand. These shifts in China, Vietnam, Indonesia, South Africa and other countries will limit the growth of coal export. Global demand forcollectively result in a steady or slight fall in coal is expected to continue to increase as a result of rapid development in the power generation and metallurgy industriesdemand in the Asia Pacific region, where demand will accountregion. International spot coal prices is projected to continue to fall from the level at the end of 2008, and

experience less volatility compared with 2008. As of June 11, 2009 spot price for more than 50% of global coal trading volume and expected to create strong demand for qualityAustralian BJ thermal coal was approximately US$75.9 per tonne, representing a decrease of 5.7% from US$80.50 per tonne as of the end of 2008 and coking coal. The spota decrease of 40.8% from the 2008 average price of the Australian BJ steamUS$128.16 per tonne.

Our average coal reached approximately US$120 per tonne in March 2008. International coal prices in 2008 are expected to increase significantly in 2008 from 2007 levels and will remain volatile at historically high levels.

The average sellingsale price of our coal products is expected to increase significantlyfall in 2008. As of the date of this Annual Report, we have entered into domestic coal sales contracts for approximately 16.8 million tonnes of coal, of which 7.3 million tonnes is for thermal coal that are priced, on average, 37.9% higher than 2007 levels. The price of the remaining 9.5 million tonnes of coal that have been contracted for is, on average selling price is 38.1% higher than 2007 price2009 from 2008 levels. As of the date of this Annual Report,annual report, we have entered intohad formed domestic sales contracts to export 500,000for approximately 7.8 million tonnes of coal. The average selling pricecoal, of which 4.3 million tonne represented electric coal sales.

Outlook for the methanol market in China

In 2009, newly built methanol facilities in China will commence production and continue to increase total production capacity, together with the ample supply of low cost imported methanol, the domestic supply of methanol will increase. As a result of slowing economic growth that has reduced methanol demand from downstream products such as formaldehyde, acetic acid, dimethyl ether and agricultural chemicals, many chemical companies in China have retracted their production from full capacity. In the first half of 2009, the methanol market in China experienced oversupply that pushed methanol prices lower. In addition to stimulating overall economic growth, the PRC Government’s economic stimulus policies is expected to promote methanol gasoline, while methanol manufacturers are taking measures to reduce production. As a result of these, export sales increased 92.1% fromwe expect the prior year.methanol market to remain stable.

E. Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

E.Off-balance Sheet Arrangements

As of December 31, 2007,2008, other than capital expenditure commitments, discussed in “B. Liquidity and Capital Resources” above, and contractual obligations, discussed in “F. Contractual Obligations” below, we did not have any off-balance sheet arrangements.

F. Contractual Obligations

F.Contractual Obligations

The following table summarizes our contractual obligations and commercial commitments as of December 31, 2007:2008:

 

  Payments due by period  Payments due by period
  Total  Less than
1 Year
  1-3 years  3-5 years  More than
5 years
  Total  Less than
1 Year
  1 to 3 years  3 to 5 years  More than
5 years
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Contractual Obligations

                    

Unsecured bank borrowings

  330,000  72,000  104,000  44,000  110,000  258,000  82,000  44,000  44,000  88,000

Capital commitments for the acquisition of assets

  322,271  322,271  —    —    —    142,399  142,399  —    —    —  

Capital commitments for the development of new coal mines

  747,339  747,339  —    —    —  

Amounts due to Controlling Shareholder and its subsidiaries

  684,231  669,275  14,956  0  0  713,581  706,328  7,253  0  0
                              

Total

  2,083,841  1,810,885  118,956  44,000  110,000  1,113,980  930,727  51,253  44,000  88,000
                              

During 2006, we entered into a joint venture agreement with Chia Tai Company and Yushen Company to establish Yushuwan Coal Mine Company for the construction and operation of Yushuwan Coal Mine in Shaanxi Province. We will invest approximately RMB196.8 million to obtain a 41% equity interest in Yushuwan Coal Mine Company. As of December 31, 2007,2008, we have made a deposit of RMB118.0 million in relation to this joint venture, and we are committed to invest a further RMB78.8 million.

Acquisition of Mining Rights of Jining IIIAmounts due to Controlling Shareholder and its subsidiaries

We acquired Jining III Coal Mine on January 1, 2001 pursuant to the Acquisition Agreement of Jining III Coal Mine, which was we entered into betweenwith the Controlling Shareholder and us on August 4, 2000. Pursuant to the Jining III Acquisition Agreement, we agreed to purchase the mining rights associated withof Jining III for approximately RMB132.5 million. This amount is to be paid to the Controlling Shareholder in ten interest-free equal annual installments beginning 2001. For the year ended on December 31, 2007,2008, we have paid a total of approximately RMB13.3RMB13.2 million to the Controlling Shareholder for the mining rights toof Jining III.III Coal Mine.

Loan AgreementUnsecured bank borrowings

The outstanding balance of our unsecured bank loan as of December 31, 20072008 represents two borrowings obtained by Tianchi Energy, a subsidiary of Shanxi Nenghua, prior to our acquisition of Shanxi Nenghua.

On December 28, 2005, Tianchi Energy entered into a long-term loan agreement with the Taiyuan branch of China Minsheng Bank, for an amount of RMB160.0 million, the repayment of which is guaranteed by our Parent Company. The initial interest rate on the loan was 5.85% per annum, which is subject to adjustments based on interest rates set by the People’s Bank of China (“PBOC”). In 2008, the PBOC lowered interest rates five times from 7.56% in September to 5.76% in December. As of December 31, 2007,2008, the outstanding balance on the loan of RMB110.0RMB60.0 million carried an interest rate of 7.09%5.31% per annum. The loan shallwill be repaid in three annual installments over a period of four years, with the first installment due on December 22, 2007.2007, 2008 and 2009. Each of the first two installments are foris RMB50 million and the third installment is for RMB60 million. Interest ismillion with interest calculated on a monthly basis.

In addition, Tianchi Energy entered into a long-term loan agreement with the State Development Bank on February 13, 2006, and borrowed a total of RMB220.0 million on February 20, 2006. The initial interest rate on the loans was 6.21%6.12% per annum, which is subject to adjustments based on interest rates set by the PBOC and thePBOC. The outstanding balance of the loan of RMB220.0RMB198.0 million as of December 31, 20072008 carried an interest rate of 6.84%5.94% per annum. From May 20, 2008, the principal for the loan will become payable in 20 installments over a period of 117 months, with each installment amounting to RMB11 million. Interest is calculated on a quarterly basis. The repayment of this loan is also guaranteed by our Parent Company.

G. Critical Accounting Policies

G.Critical Accounting Policies

We prepare our consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards.IFRS. The preparation of these financial statements requires us to make estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of items in the financial statements that cannot be measured accurately. These judgments, estimates and assumptions are based on the historical experience of our management as well as other relevant factors. Actual results may differ from these estimates. We review the foregoing judgments, estimates and assumptions regularly on a going concern basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognized in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.

The following are the critical estimates that we have made in the process of applying the accounting policies and that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in financial statements.

Depreciation

The cost of mining structures is depreciated using the units of production method based on the estimated production volume for which the structure was designed. Management exercises its judgment in estimating the useful lives of the depreciable assets and the production volume of each mine. The estimated coal production volume of each mine is updated on a regular basis and takes into account recent production and technical information of each mine. These changes are considered a change in estimate for accounting purposes and is reflected on a prospective basis in related depreciation rates. Estimates of the production volumes are inherently imprecise and represent only approximate amounts because of the subjective judgments involved in developing such information.

Mining rights

Mining rights are amortized on a straight line basis over the shorter of the contractual period and their useful lives. The useful lives are estimated based on the total proven and probable reserves of coal mine. Management exercises its subjective judgment in developing information about the total proven and probable reserves of coal mines. Proved and probable coal reserve estimates are updated on a regular basis and take into account recent production and technical information of each mine.

Provision for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs

The cost to relocate inhabitants from the land in preparation for mining activities is chargedrecorded as a prepayment and amortized to the consolidated income statement when incurred.over the period of relevant mining activities. The provision for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs is reviewed regularly to verify that it properly reflects the remaining obligation arising from the current and past mining activities. Provisions for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs are determined by our management based on past experience, and its best estimate of the current and future costs.costs and predictions for government policies. These estimates may change over time because of changes in government policy, the rise in average household income in China and the actual areas affected by land subsidence from previous mining activities.

Impairment of goodwill

Determining whether goodwill is impaired requires an estimation of the value in use of the cash-generating units to which goodwill has been allocated. The determination of value in use requires the GroupCompany to estimate the future cash flows expected to arise from the cash-generating unit and a suitable

discount rate in order to calculate the present value. As of December 31, 2008 and 2007, the carrying amount of goodwill was approximately RMB298.7 million. Cash flow projections during the budget period for each of the above units are based on the budgeted revenue and expected gross margins during the budget period and the raw materials price inflation during the budget period. Expected cash inflows/outflows have been determined based on past performance and management’s market development expectations.

Estimated impairment of property, plant and equipment

When there is impairment indicator, the GroupCompany takes into consideration the estimation of future cash flows. The amount of the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows. When actual future cash flows are less than expected, a material impairment loss may arise. In estimating the future cash flows, management take into account the recent production and technical advancements. As price and cost levels change from year to year, the estimate of future cash flows also changes. Notwithstanding that management has considered all the available information in making their impairment assessment, inherent uncertainty exists as to the conditions of mines and the environment, and actual write-offs may be higher than the estimated amount. As of December 31, 2007,2008, the carrying amount of property, plant and equipment was approximately RMB13,525.0RMB14,149.4 million. During the year ended December 31, 2007, approximately RMB339.7 million was written off as expenses.

Recent Changes in Accounting Pronouncements

In the current year, we hashave applied, for the first time, a number of new standards, amendments and interpretations (“New IFRS”) issued by the IASB and the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (the IFRIC)“IFRIC”) of the IASB which are effective for our Company’s fiscal year beginning January 1, 2007:2008:

 

International Accounting Standard (“IAS”) 1 (Amendment)39 & IFRS 7 (Amendments)

  Capital Disclosures

Reclassification of Financial Assets

IFRS 7

IFRIC 11

  Financial Instruments: Disclosures

IFRS 2-Group and Treasury Share Transactions

IFRIC 712

  Applying the Restatement Approach under IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies

Service Concession Arrangements

IFRIC 814

  Scope of IFRS 2
IFRIC 9Reassessment of Embedded Derivatives
IFRIC 10Interim Financial Reporting

IAS 19 – The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and Impairmenttheir Interaction

The adoption of the newNew IFRS had no material effect on how the results and the financial position for the current or prior accounting periodsyears have been prepared. Accordingly, no prior period adjustment has beenis required.

We have applied the disclosure requirements under IAS 1 (Amendment) and IFRS 7. Certain information presented in prior year under the requirements of IAS 32 has been removed and the relevant comparative information based on the requirement of IAS 1 (Amendment) and IFRS 7 has been presented for the first time in the current year.

We have alreadynot applied the following new and revised standards, amendments or interpretations that have been issued but are not effective as of the date of this Annual Report.annual report.

 

IFRSs (Amendments)

  

Improvements to IFRSs1

IFRSs (Amendments)

Improvements to IFRSs 20092

IAS 1 (Revised)

  

Presentation of Financial Statements23

IAS 23 (Revised)

  

Borrowing Costs23

IAS 27 (Revised)

  

Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements34

IAS 1 & 32 & 1 (Amendments)

  

Puttable Financial Instruments and Obligations Arising on Liquidation23

IAS 39 (Amendment)

Eligible Hedged Items4

IFRS 1 & IAS 27 (Amendments)

  

Cost of an Investment in a Subsidiary, Jointly Controlled Entity or Associate23

IFRS 1 (Revised)

First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards4

IFRS 2 (Amendment)

  

Share-based Payment – Vesting Conditions and Cancellations23

IFRS 3 (Revised)

  

Business Combinations34

IFRS 87 (Amendment)

  

Improving Disclosures about Financial Instruments3

IFRS 8

Operating Segments23

IAS 39 & IFRIC 119 (Amendments)

  

IFRS 2: Group and Treasury Share TransactionsEmbedded Derivatives47

IFRIC 1213

  Service Concession Arrangements5
IFRIC 13

Customer Loyalty Programmes65

IFRIC 1415

  

IAS 19 - The Limit onAgreements for the Construction of Real Estate3

IFRIC 16

Hedges of a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their InteractionNet Investments in a Foreign Operation56

IFRIC 17

Distributions of Non-Cash Assets to Owners4

IFRIC 18

Transfers of Assets from Customers8

 

1

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, January 2009, except the amendments to IFRS 5, effective for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, July 2009

2

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2009, July 1, 2009 and January 2009

1, 2010, as appropriate

3

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, July 2009

4

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, March 2007

2009

5

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, January 2008

6

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after October 1, July 2008

7Effective for annual periods ending on or after June 30, 2009
8Effective for transfers of assets from customers received on or after July 1, 2009

Among these new standards and interpretations, IAS 1 (Revised) is expected to materially change the presentation of our financial statements. The directorsamendments affect the presentation of the Company anticipate that the applicationowner changes in equity and introduce a statement of these standards or interpretationscomprehensive income. We will have no material impact onthe option of presenting items of income and expenses and components of other comprehensive income either in a single statement of comprehensive income with subtotals, or in two separate statements (a separate income statement followed by a statement of comprehensive income). The amendment does not affect the financial position or our results or financial position, except but will give rise to additional disclosures.

IFRS 8 Operating Segments.

Upon the adoption of IFRS 8will be effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2009, segment results2009. The accounting policy for identifying segments will be reported in accordance withbased on internal management reporting information that is regularly reviewed by our chief operating decision maker for the basis used for preparing management financial information. Currently,purpose of allocating resources to the segments and assessing their performances. In the current year, segment results are measureddisclosed in accordance with the same accounting policies used to prepare the consolidated financial statements and include items specified by IAS 14.

The adoption of IFRS 3 (revised)(Revised) may affect the accounting for business combinationscombination for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after July 1, 2009. IASIFRS 27 (revised)(Revised) will affect the accounting treatment for changes in a parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control, which will be accounted for as an equity transaction.

Our Directors considered that except for the above-mentioned standards or interpretations, the application of other standards or interpretations will have no material impact to our financial statements.

 

ITEM 6.DIRECTORS, SUPERVISORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES

A. Directors, Supervisors and Senior Management

A.Directors, Supervisors and Senior Management

The following table sets forth selected information concerning our board of directors (“Board of Directors”), board of supervisors (the “Board of Supervisors”) and executive officers as of December 31, 2007. Based on2008. Pursuant to our Articles of Association, our Board of Directors consists of 13 directors, withincluding one Chairman, two Vice-Chairmen,Vice Chairmen, four independent directors and one employee director. All Directors serve for a term of three yearsthree-year terms beginning their respective election dates ordate until the election of their respective successors.successor.

As more than 50% of our voting power is held by the Controlling Shareholder, we are not required to have a majority of independent directors in reliance on the exemption provided under Section 303A of the NYSE Listing Rules.

 

Name

  

Age

  

Position at the Company

  

Date Term of

Office Expires1

Directors

      

WANG Xin

  4950  Chairman  June 28, 20082011

GENG Jiahuai

  5758  Vice Chairman  June 28, 20082011

YANG Deyu

  5960  Vice Chairman and General Manager  June 28, 20082011

SHI Xuerang

  5354  Director  June 28, 20082011

CHEN Changchun

  5556  Director  June 28, 20082011

WU Yuxiang

  4647  Director and Chief Finance Officer  June 28, 20082011

WANG Xinkun

  5556  Director and Deputy General Manager  June 28, 20082011

ZHANG Baocai

  4041  Director and Secretary of the Board of Directors  June 28, 20082011

DONG Yunqing

53DirectorJune 2011
Independent Non-executive Directors

PU Hongjiu

72DirectorJune 2011

ZHAI Xigui

66DirectorJune 2011

LI Weian

  52  Director  June 28, 2008
2011

Independent Non-executive DirectorsWANG Junyan

PU Hongjiu  7138  Director  June 28, 20082011
CUI Jianmin75DirectorJune 28, 2008
WANG Xiaojun53DirectorJune 28, 2008
WANG Quanxi52DirectorJune 28, 2008
Supervisory Committee
MENG Xianchang  60

SONG Guo

54  Chairman of Supervisory Committee  June 28, 20082011
SONG Guo

ZHOU Shoucheng

  5356  Vice Chairman of Supervisory Committee  June 28, 20082011

ZHANG Shengdong

  5152  Supervisor  June 28, 20082011
LIU Weixin

ZHEN Ailan

  5745  Supervisor  June 28, 20082011
XU Bentai

WEI Huanmin

  4952  Supervisor  June 28, 20082011

XU Bentai

50SupervisorJune 2011

Executive Officers

JIN Tai

  56

JIN Tai

57  Deputy General Manager  June 28, 20082011

ZHANG Yingmin

  5455  Executive Deputy General Manager  June 28, 20082011

HE Ye

50Deputy General ManagerJune 28, 2008
QU Tianzhi45Deputy General ManagerJune 28, 2008
TIAN Fengze

  51  Deputy General Manager  June 28, 20082011
SHI Chengzhong

QU Tianzhi

  4546  ViceDeputy General Manager  June 28, 20082011
LAI Cunliang

TIAN Fengze

  4752  ViceDeputy General Manager  June 28, 20082011
NI Xinghua

SHI Chengzhong

  5146Deputy General ManagerJune 2011

LAI Cunliang

48Deputy General ManagerJune 2011

NI Xinghua

52  Chief Engineer  June 28, 20082011

 

1.The expiration of the term of office is generally set as the date of the shareholders’ meeting when a new session of the Board is elected or a Board meeting if an executive retireswill be elected. Executives who retire in the interim.interim are replaced in the next Board meeting.

Executive Directors

WANG Xin,, aged 49, is50, a researcher in engineering technique applications,application with a doctor ofdoctorate in engineering technology and servesan executive MBA degree, has served as chairman of the Board.our Board since 2004. Mr. Wang is alsoactively involved in Yankuang Group and serves as the vice chairman of the board, of directors, the general manager and the party committee deputy secretary offor Yankuang Group as well as the chairman of Yankuang Xinjiang Nenghua Company Limited.Group. Mr. Wang joined the PredecessorCompany’s predecessor in 1982 and became thea vice general manager of Yankuang Group in 2000. He was appointed as thea board director of the board of directors and vice general manager of Yankuang Group in 2002 and was appointed aspromoted to the vice chairman of the board of directors and the general manager of Yankuang Group, in 2003. In 2004, he was appointed as one of the Directors andwell as the chairman of the Board.board of Shanghai Yankuang Energy Science Research Co., Ltd. in 2003. Since 2007, he has been the party committee deputy secretary of Yankuang Group and the chairman of Yankuang Xinjiang Nenghua Company Limited. He is a graduate of China University of Mining and Technology.Technology and Nankai University.

GENG Jiahuai,, aged 57, is58, a researcher in engineering technique application. He servesapplication with an executive MBA degree, has served as thea vice chairman of theour Board of the Company,since 2004 and, at the same time, is the chairman of the board of directors and the party committee secretary of Yankuang Group. During the period fromFrom 1985 to 2002, Mr. Geng successively acted as the deputy director of Zibo Mining Bureau, the head of the Zibo Safety and Supervision Bureau and the director general of Zibo Mining Bureau. Mr. Geng joined Yankuang Group in 2002 and became theas a general manager and served as the vice chairman of the board of directors and the party committee deputy secretary of Yankuang Group. Mr. Geng was appointedpromoted to the chairman of the board of the directors and the party committee secretary of Yankuang Group in 2003. Mr. Geng became a Director of the Company in 2002 and the vice chairman of the Company in 2004. He is a graduate of Shandong Mining Institute.Nankai University.

YANG Deyu,, aged 59, is60, a researcher in engineering technique application and also serveswith an executive MBA degree, has served as thea vice chairman of theour Board and the general manager of the Company.Company since 2002. He ishas also served as a board director of the board of Yankuang Group and the vice chairman of Yankuang Xinjiang Nenghua Company Limited.since 2004. Mr. Yang joined the Company’s predecessor in 1968 and became the deputy director of Yanzhou Mining Bureau in 1994, and the deputy general manager of the Company’s predecessor and the head of the Safety and Supervision Bureau in 1996. Mr. Yang was appointed an executive director and the general manager of the Company in 1997 and the vice chairman of the Board and the general manager of the Company in 2002. Mr. Yang was appointed the director of Yankuang Group in 2004 and was appointed as the vice chairman of Yankuang Xinjiang NenghuaNeng Hua Company Limited in 2007. He is a graduate of Shandong Mining Institute.Nankai University.

SHI Xuerang,, aged 53, is54, a senior engineer and serves aswith an executive MBA degree, is a Director of the Companyour Board and deputy general manager of Yankuang Group. From 2001 to 2003, Mr. Shi acted as the deputy general manager of Xinwen Coal Mining Group Company Limited. He joined Yankuang Group as a deputy general manager in 2003 and was appointed a Director of the Company in 2005. He is a graduate of Shandong Mining Institute.Nankai University.

CHEN Changchun,, aged 55, is56, a senior accountant, and serveshas served as a Director of the Company. In addition, Mr. Chen serves asour Board since 2005 and a director, the chief accountant and the chief legal advisor of Yankuang

Group and a director of Yankuang Xinjiang Nenghua Company Limited. Group. Mr. Chen joined the Company’s predecessor in 1984 and became the chief accountant and a board director of Yankuang Group in 1998 and 2004, respectively. Mr. Chen was appointed a Director of the Company in 2005 and was appointed the chief legal advisor of Yankuang Group in 2006 and a board director of Yankuang Xinjiang NenghuaNeng Hua Company Limited and of Shanghai CIFCO Futures Co., Ltd. in 2007. He is a graduate of Beijing Coal Cadre Institute.

WU Yuxiang,, aged 46, is47, a senior accountant and serveswith a masters degree in accounting, has served as a director and the chief financial officer of the Company. Mr. Wu joined the Company’s Predecessor in 1981 and became the chief accountant of its finance department in 1996. Mr. Wu became the manager of the finance department of the Company in 1997 and was appointed as a directorDirector and the chief financial officer of the Company since 2002. Mr. Wu joined the Company’s predecessor in 2002.1981 and was promoted to the chief accountant of the finance department in 1996 and the Company’s manager of the finance department in 1997. Since 2007, he has also serves asbeen the chairman of the supervisory committee of Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited. He is a graduate of the Party School of Shandong TV University.Provincial Communist Committee.

WANG Xinkun, aged 55, is56, a senior economist and serveswith a masters degree, has served as a Director and the deputy general manager of the Company. Mr. Wang joined the Company’s Predecessor in 1977. Mr. Wang became a manager of the Company’s coal transportation and sales department in 2000, and a deputy general manager of the Company since 2004 and 2002, respectively. Mr. Wang joined the Company’s predecessor in 2002. He1977 and became a Directorthe Company’s manager of the Companycoal transportation and sales department in 2004.2000. Since 2007, he has also served as the vice-chairmanvice chairman of Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited. He is a graduate of Tianjin University.

ZhangZHANG Baocai,, aged 40, is41, a senior accountant and serveswith a masters degree, has served as a Director and the board secretary of the Company.Company since 2006. Mr. Zhang joined the Company’s Predecessorpredecessor in 1989 and was appointed as the head of the planning and finance department of the Company in 2002. He was appointed a Director, the board secretary, the head of the Secretariat of the Board and the head of the Information Management Department of the Company in 2006. Mr. Zhang is a graduate of Nankai University.

DONG Yunqing,, aged 52, is53, a professor-level senior administrative officer, as wellhas served as a Director and the chairman of the labor union of the Company.Company since 2002. Mr. Dong joined the Company’s Predecessorpredecessor in 1981 and was the vice chairman of the labor union of Yankuang Group from 2001 to April 2003. Mr. Dong was appointed as a Director and the chairman of the labor union of the Company in 2002. He is a graduate of Shandong Mining Institute.

Independent Non-executive Directors

PuPU Hongjiu,, aged 71, is72, a professor-level senior engineer, and serveshas served as an independent non-executive Director of the Company.Company since 2005. He is the first vice chairman of the China Coal Industry Association and the chairman of Coal Industry Association of China International Association. Mr. Pu wasis a party group member and the head of disciplinary inspection unit of the State Administration of Work Safety and State Administration of Coal Mine Safety in 2001. He has been the chairperson of China Coal Academy since 2001 and the first vice-chairman of the China Coal Industry Association since 2003. He became an independent non-executive director of the Company in 2005. He is a graduate of Hefei Mining Institute. He ishas also been an independent non-executive director of Shanghai Datun Energy Company Limited and Shenhua Ningxia Coalsince 2004. He is a graduate of Hefei Mining Group Corporation Limited.Institute.

CUI JianminZHAI Xigui,, aged 75, is66, a senior auditor, and certified accountant and serves as an independent non-executive director of the Company and a consultant of China Registered Tax Practitioners Association. Mr. Cui had previously been the deputy chief auditor of National Audit Office of the PRC, the chairman of the Association of China Certified Accountants, and a committee member of the 8th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference. Mr. Cui becamewas appointed an independent non-executive Director of the Company in 2002,2008. Mr. Zhai was the deputy chief auditor of the National Audit Office in 1996 and he has servesthe vice secretary of the party group of the National Audit Office in 1999. He was elected as the deputy to the 10th Session of the National People’s Congress of the PRC and a consultantmember of the Finance and Economics Committee in the same congressional session in 2003. Mr. Zhai was appointed as the president of China Registered Tax Practitioners Association since September 2004. Mr. CuiAudit Society in 2005. He is a graduate of the People’sCentral University of China. Mr. Cui is also an independent non-executive director of China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd.Finance and Economics.

WANG XiaojunLI Weian, aged 53, admitted as a solicitor in England and Wales and Hong Kong, is an independent non-executive Director of the Company and a partner of Wang & Co., X. J. in Hong Kong. He52, was admitted in the PRC, Hong Kong and England and Wales in 1988, 1995 and 1996, respectively. Mr. Wang has worked as a legal counsel in the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and practiced law with Richards Bulter. He becameappointed an independent non-executive Director of the Company in 2002. He

graduated from2008 and is a professor at Nankai University holding doctorate degrees in management and economics. Mr. Li has been the People’s UniversityDean of China and the GraduateBusiness School of Nankai University since 1997. He is also a director of the Chinese AcademyCorporate Management Research Center, a part-time member of Social Sciences and holds a bachelor degree in lawsthe Science Counseling Team of the Degree Committee of the State Council and a master’s degree in law.deputy director of the Business Administration Teaching Direction Committee of the Ministry of Education. He has also served as an independent non-executive director of Offshore Oil Engineering Co., Ltd since 2002, and previously served as an independent non-executive director of Shanxi Guoyang New Energy Co. and SinoCom Software Group Ltd. Mr. Li is alsoa graduate of Nankai University and Keio University.

WANG Junyan, aged 38, was appointed an independent non-executive director of the Guangzhou Shipyard International Company Limited, Concept Investments Ltd.,in 2008 and Natural Gas Company Limited of Shaanxi Province.

WANG Quanxi, aged 52, professor of Nankai University, is an independent non-executive Director of the Company. He is the director of Enterprise Research Center of Nankai University.holds a maters degree in finance. Mr. Wang has been appointedserved as an independent non-executive Directorthe chairman of the Companyboard and the investment director of Shenghai Investment and Management Co., Ltd. since 2004.2007 and was appointed the managing director general manager and an investment director of CITIC Securities International Investment and Management (Hong Kong) Co., Ltd in 2008. He is a graduatewas also appointed the managing director of TianjinShanghai First Finance and Economics University. He is alsoGroup Co., Ltd. in 1997. Mr. Wang has served as an independent non-executive director of Silver Plaza Group Co., Ltd.Livzon Pharmaceuticals Company Limited and China Aerospace International Holdings Ltd since 2007. Mr. Wang is a graduate of the University of Hong Kong.

Board of Supervisors

MENG Xianchang, aged 60, is a senior administrative officer and serves as the chairman of the supervisory committee of the Company. Mr. Meng joined the Company’s predecessor in 1981 and was appointed as a supervisor of the Company’s Predecessor in 1996. He had been the deputy secretary of party committee of Yankuang Group from 1996 to 2007. He became the chairman of the supervisory committee of the Company in 1997. He is a graduate of Shandong Mining Institute.

SONG Guo, aged 53, is54, a professor-level senior administrative officer and serves aswith an executive MBA degree, is the vice chairman of the supervisory committee of the Company and a deputy secretary of the party committee of Yankuang Group. In 2002, Mr. Song was the officer-in-charge of the office of Coal Management Bureau of Shandong Province. He joined Yankuang Group in 2003 and wasserved as the secretary of the disciplinary inspection committee from 2003 to 2007. He becamewas appointed as a deputy secretary of the party committee of Yankuang Group in 2004 and the vice-chairmanvice chairman of the supervisory committee of the Company in 2005. In 2008, Mr. Song was promoted to the chairman of the supervisory committee of the Company. He is a graduate of ShandongNankai University.

ZHOU Shoucheng, aged 56, a professor-level senior administrative officer, was appointed the vice chairman of the supervisory committee of the Company in 2008 and has serves as the secretary of the disciplinary inspection committee and the chairman of the labour union of Yankuang Group since 2007. Mr. Zhou joined the predecessor of the Company in 1979 and has held the posts of the secretary of the Youth League committee of Yankuang Group, the secretary of the party committee of Beisu Coal Mine and the secretary of the party committee and the vice manager of Xinglongzhuang Coal Mine successively from 1984 to 2002. He was the chairman of the labour union of Yankuang Group from 2002 to 2007. Mr. Zhou is a graduate of Central Communist Party School Correspondence Institute.

ZHANG Shengdong, aged 51, is52, a senior accountant, and serves ashas been a supervisor of the Company.Company since 2002. He ishas also served as the deputy chief accountant of Yankuang Group and the head of the finance department and the finance company preparatory office of the Finance Company Limited of Yankuang Group.Group since 2002. Mr. Zhang joined the Company’s Predecessorpredecessor in 1981 and became the deputy chief accountant in 1997. He became a supervisor of the Company and the head of the finance company preparatory office of Yankuang Group in 2002. Mr. Zhang was appointed the head of the finance department of Yankuang Group in 2006.2006 and the assistant to the general manager in 2008. He is a graduate fromof China University of Mining and Technology.

LIU WeixinZHEN Ailan, aged 57, is45, a senior accountant isand senior auditor, was appointed a supervisor of the Company andin 2008. She has served as the deputy director of the audit department at Yankuang Group since 2005. After joining the Company’s predecessor in 1980, she was appointed to the deputy chief of the audit departmentdivision of Yankuang Group. Mr. Liu joinedGroup in 2002 and subsequently promoted to the Company’s Predecessor in 1971 and became the vicedeputy director of the audit affair office of Yankuang Group in 2001, the chief of the audit department of Yankuang Group in 2003 and the deputy director of audit department of Yankuang Group in 2005. Mr. Liu becameMs. Zhen is a graduate of Northeastern University of Finance and Economics.

WEI Huanmin, aged 52, a professor-level senior administrative officer, was appointed the supervisor of the Company in 2002. He2008. Mr. Wei joined the Company’s predecessor in 1984, and served as the Company’s deputy secretary of the disciplinary inspection committee and the chief of the division of inspection from 2002 until being promoted to the secretary of the disciplinary inspection committee in 2006. Mr. Wei is a graduate of Shandong Youth CadreCentral Communist Party School Correspondence Institute.

XU Bentai, aged 49, is50, a senior administrative officer, as well as anhas been the employee supervisor of the Company since 2002 and the chairman of the labor union of Jining III Coal Mine’s labor union.Mine since 1999. Mr. Xu joined the Company’s Predecessorpredecessor in 1978 and became the chairman of Jining III Coal Mine’s labor union in 1999. Mr. Xu became an employee supervisor of the Company in 2002. He is a graduate of the Central Communist Party School.School Correspondence Institute.

Other Executive Officers

JIN Tai, aged 56, is57, a researcher in engineering technique application and serveswith a masters degree in engineering, has served as a deputy general mangermanager of the Company.Company since 2004. Mr. Jin joined the Company’s Predecessorpredecessor in 1968. He became the head of Xinglongzhuang Coal Mine in 19981968, and became the deputy general manager of Yankuang Group in 2000. He became the head of Xinglongzhuang Coal Mine in 1998. Mr. Jin has been appointed as a deputy general manager of the Company since 2004. HeTai is a graduate of China University of Mining and Technology.

ZHANG Yingmin, aged 54, is55, a researcher in engineering technology application and serves aswith an executive MBA degree, has been the executive deputy general manager of the Company and a director of Yankuang Group.Group since 2002 and 2004, respectively. Mr. Zhang joined the Company’s Predecessorpredecessor in 1971. He1971, and became the head of Baodian Coal Mine in 2000. Mr.

Zhang became an executive deputy general manager of the Company in 2002 and aHe was also appointed deputy general manager of Yankuang Group in 2003. In 2004, Mr. Zhang became a director of Yankuang Group2003 and the chief of the safety supervision bureau of the Company. HeCompany in 2004. Mr. Zhang is a graduate of TianjinNankai University.

HE Ye,, aged 50, is51, a researcher in engineering technology application, and serves as the deputy general manager of the Company. Mr. He joined the Company’s Predecessorwith a doctorate in 1993. He became the head of Jining II Coal Mine in 1999 and became the executive deputy general manager of an industrial company subordinated to Yankuang Group in 2002. Mr. Heengineering, has been appointedserved as a deputy general manager of the Company since 2004. Mr. He joined the Company’s predecessor in 1993 and became the head of Jining II Coal Mine in 1999. In 2002, he was appointed the executive deputy general manager of an industrial company that is a subsidiary of Yankuang Group in 2002. Mr. He is a graduate of Guizhou InstituteChina University of Mining and Technology.

QU Tianzhi, aged 45, is46, a researcher in engineering technique application, and serveswith a doctorate in engineering, has served as thea deputy general manager of the Company.Company since 2006. Mr. Qu joined the Company’s Predecessorpredecessor in 1985 and became the head of Dongtan Coal Mine in 2000. He was appointed as a deputy general manager of the Company in 2006. Mr. Xu is a graduate of China University of Mining and Technology.

TIAN Fengze, aged 51, is52, a senior economist and serveswith a masters degree, has served as a deputy general manager of the Company.Company since 2002. Mr. Tian joined the Company’s Predecessorpredecessor in 1976 and became the head of BeixuBeisu Coal Mine in 1991. Mr. Tian became a deputy general manager of the Company in 2002. He is a graduate of Beijing Coal Cadre Institute.Party School of Shandong Provincial Communist Committee.

SHI Chengzhong, aged 45, is46, a researcher in engineering technique application and serveswith an executive MBA degree, has served as a deputy general manager of the Company.Company since 2002. Mr. Shi joined the Company’s Predecessorpredecessor in 1983 and became a deputy chief engineer of Yankuang Group in 2000 and a deputy general manager of the Company in 2002. He is a graduate of Shandong Mining Institute.2000. Mr. Shi is also a director of Guizhou Panjiang Coal Power Company Limited.Limited and a graduate of Nankai University.

LAI Cunliang, aged 47, is48, a senior engineer with a masters degree in mining engineering and servesan executive MBA degree, has served as a deputy general manager of the Company and holds a master degree in mining engineering.since 2005. Mr. Lai joined the Company’s Predecessorpredecessor in 1980 and became the head of Xinglongzhuang Coal Mine of the Company in 2000. He has been a director and the general manager of YanmeiYancoal Australia Pty since 2004. Mr. Lai became a deputy general manager of the Company in 2005. He is a graduate of China University of Mining & Technology.and Technology and Nankai University.

NI Xinghua, aged 51, is52, a researcher in engineering technique application and serves aswith a masters degree, has been the chief engineer of the Company.Company since 2002. Mr. Ni joined the Company’s Predecessorpredecessor in 1975 and became a deputy chief engineer of Yankuang Group in 2000. He has been appointed as the chief engineer of the Company since 2002. Mr. Ni is a graduate of Tianjin University.

Nomination of the Director, theDirectors andSupervisorSupervisorsfor the new sessionNew Session

As approved by the 16th meeting of the third session of the Board held on April 18, 2008, the Board nominated Mr. Wang Xin, Mr. Geng Jiahuai, Mr. Yang Deyu, Mr. Shi Xuerang, Mr. Chen Changchun, Mr. Wu Yuxiang, Mr. Wang Xinkun and Mr. Zhang Baocai as the candidates of the fourth session of the Board; Mr. Pu Hongjiu, Mr. Zhai Xigui, Mr. Li Weian, Mr. Wang Junyan were nominated as the candidates of independent Directors. The proposal will be submitted tonomination was approved by our shareholders for consideration and approval in the 2007 annual general meeting. Mr. Dong Yunquig were elected by the labor union of the Company as the employee director for the fourth session of the Board.

As approved by the 10th meeting of the third session of the Supervisory Committee held on April 18, 2008, the Supervisory Committee nominatedJune 27, 2008. Mr. Song Guo, Mr. Zhou Shoucheng, Mr. Zhang Shengdong and Ms. Zhen Ailan were nominated and as the candidates for the fourth session of the Supervisory Committee. The proposal will be submitted tosupervisory committee and subsequently approved by our shareholdersshareholders.

On May 21, 2008, the labor union of the Company elected Mr. Dong Yunquig as the employee director for considerationthe fourth session of the Board and approval in the 2007 annual general meeting. Mr. Wei Huanmin and Mr. Xu Bentai were elected by the labor union of the Company as the staff supervisoremployee supervisors for the fourth session of the Supervisory Committee.supervisory committee.

B. CompensationEach of the Directors and superiors elected for the fourth session of the Board served from June 27, 2008 until the election of the fifth session of the Board is elected in June 2011.

B.Compensation

The Directors, Supervisorssupervisors and Executive Officersexecutive officers who are our employees receive compensation in the form of salaries, housing allowances and other allowances and benefits, including pension contributions. The aggregate amount of cash remuneration paid by us in 2008 to Directors, including three Directors who were not elected to the 15 Directors, Supervisors

fourth session of the Board, supervisors and Executive Officers in the year ended December 31, 2007executive officers was RMB3.1RMB3.5 million. The aggregate amount of cash remuneration paid by us to the five highest-paid individuals in the Company (none of which were Directors) in 20072008 was RMB1.8RMB1.6 million. In addition, Directors and Supervisorssupervisors receive other benefits, such as subsidized or free health insurance and transportation, which are customarily provided by PRC enterprises to their senior-level employees. We did not pay any discretionary bonus during the reporting period of this Annual Reportannual report to our Directors, Supervisorssupervisors or Executive Officers.executive officers. Details of each of the directors’ and supervisors’ salaries and benefits are as follows:

 

  For the year ended December 31, 2007  For the year ended December 31, 2008
  Fees  Salaries,
allowance
and other
benefits in kind
  Retirement
benefit plan
contribution
  Total  Fees  Salaries,
allowance and
other benefits
in kind
  Retirement
benefit plan
contribution
  Total
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Independent Non-Executive Directors

                

Pu Hongjiu

  96  —    —    96  104  —    —    104

Cui Jianmin

  96  —    —    96  50  —    —    50

Wang Xiaojun

  115  —    —    115  60  —    —    60

Wang Quanxi

  96  —    —    96  50  —    —    50

Zhai Xigui

  54  —    —    54

Li Weian

  54  —    —    54

Wang Junyan

  54  —    —    54
                       
  403  —    —    403  426  —    —    426
                        

Directors

                

Wang Xin

  —    —    —    —  

Geng Jiahuai

  —    —    —    —  

Yang Deyu

  —    —    —    —  

Shi Xuerang

  —    —    —    —  

Chen Changchun

  —    —    —    —  

Wang Xin*

  —    —    —    —  

Geng Jiahuai*

  —    —    —    —  

Yang Deyu*

  —    —    —    —  

Shi Xuerang*

  —    —    —    —  

Chen Changchun*

  —    —    —    —  

Wu Yuxiang

  —    172  34  206  —    192  38  230

Wang Xinkun

  —    196  39  235  —    218  44  262

Zhang Baocai

    171  34  205  —    191  38  229

Dong Yunqing

  —    172  34  206  —    192  38  230
                        
  —    711  141  852  —    793  158  951
                        

Supervisors

        

Meng Xianchang

  —    —    —    —  

Song Guo

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Shengdong

  —    —    —    —  

Liu Weixin

  —    —    —    —  

Supervisors*

        

Meng Xianchang*

  —    —    —    —  

Song Guo*

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Shengdong*

  —    —    —    —  

Liu Weixin*

  —    —    —    —  

Zhou Shoucheng*

  —    —    —    —  

Zhen Ailan*

  —    —    —    —  

Wei Huanmin

  —    192  38  230

Xu Bentai

  —    207  41  248  —    207  41  248
                        
  —    207  41  248  —    399  79  478
                        

Other Management Team

                

Jin Tai

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Yingmin

  —    —    —    —  

He Ye

  —    212  42  254

Jin Tai*

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Yingmin*

  —    —    —    —  

He Ye*

  —    —    —    —  

Qu Tianzhi

  —    218  44  262

Tian Fengze

  —    172  34  206  —    192  38  230

Shi Chengzhong

  —    195  39  234  —    218  44  262

Qu Tianzhi

  —    212  42  254

Lai Cunliang

  —    508  102  610

Ni Xinghua

  —    196  39  235  —    218  44  262

Lai Cunliang

  —    410  —    410
                        
  —    1,397  196  1,593  —    1,354  272  1,626
                        

C. Board Practices

*

the indicated individuals did not receive any compensation from us in 2008

C.Board Practices

Board of Directors

Directors are elected by shareholders at general meetings. Directors are elected formeetings to serve three year terms. We have adopted cumulative voting for the election of new Board of Directors.

Pursuant to our Articles of Association, the Board of Directors is accountable to the shareholders in general meeting and exercises the following functions and powers:

 

 (i)to be responsible for the convening of shareholders’ meetings and reporting on itsthe work toof the shareholdersBoard of Directors at such meetings;

 (ii)to implement theimplementing resolutions passed by the shareholders in general meetings;

 

 (iii)to determinedetermining our business plans and investment proposals;

 (iv)to formulateformulating our annual preliminary and final budgets;

 

 (v)to formulateformulating our profit distribution proposal and loss recovery proposals;

 

 (vi)to formulateformulating proposals for the increase or reduction of our registered capital and the issuance of our debentures or other forms of securities;

 

 (vii)to drawdrawing up plans for our merger, division, dissolution or change of corporate structure;

 

 (viii)to decidedeciding on our internal management structure;

 

 (ix)to appointappointing or removeremoving our general manager, and to appoint or remove the deputy general manager(s) and other senior officers (including the financial controller), based on the recommendation of the general manager, and to decide ondetermining their remuneration;

 

 (x)to formulateformulating our basic management system;

 

 (xi)to formulateformulating proposals for any amendment of the Articles of Association;

 

 (xii)to decidedeciding on our business involving overseas investments, acquisition and disposal of assets, mortgages of assets and other guarantees, financial management and connected transactions within the authority conferred by the general meeting;

 

 (xiii)to managemanaging the disclosure of our information;information regarding us;

 

 (xiv)to recommend to shareholders at shareholders’ general meetingsmaking recommendations on the appointment or replacement of the Company’s independent auditors;auditors to shareholders at shareholders’ general meetings;

 

 (xv)to receivereviewing management’s performance based on the working report from our management and examine their performance; andsubmitted by management;

 

 (xvi)to approveapproving an aggregate amount of provision for impairment of assets not more than 10% of our latest audited consolidated net asset value, to clearclearing an amount of provision for impairment of assets not more than 5% of our latest audited consolidated net asset value, and to execute in compliance with the relevant regulations on connected transactions ofexecuting and clearing any provision and clearance of impairment of assets involving any connected transactions.transactions in compliance with relevant connected transaction regulations; and

 

 (xvii)to exerciseexercising any other powers conferred by the shareholders in general meeting.

Except for itemsmatters specified in (vi), (vii) and (xi), which require the affirmative vote of more than two-thirds of all of the Directors, resolutions on any other items mayin respect of the above listed matters can be approved by the affirmative vote of a simple majority of the Directors.

The Board of Directors will decidemakes decisions on company matters relating to foreign investment, purchase or sale of assets, mortgage of assets, provision of guarantees,asset sales and purchases, mortgages, guarantee provisions, entrusted assetsasset management and connected transactions by the Company within the scope of authority conferred by theshareholders in a general meeting and, if necessary, submit such matters to the shareholders’ meeting for approval.

With the approval of over two-thirds of all directors,Directors, the Board of Directors may make decisions on the following matters:

 

 (1)transactions falling within the following limit with respect to purchase or sale of assets, foreign investment (including entrusted financial management and entrusted loans), provision ofasset sales and purchases, financial assistance provisions, entrusted or trusted asset or business management, entering of license agreement, transfer or accept the transfer ofagreements, and research and development projects:

 

 a.the total assets involved in a single transaction with amountis more than 5% and below 25% of the Company’s latest audited total asset value;

 

 b.a single investment representing more than 5% and below 25% of the Company’s latest audited net asset value;

 c.the subject of a single transaction accounted forinvolving more than 5% and less than 25% of the Company’s latest audited income from principal operations for the latest financial year; and

 d.the subject of a single transaction accounted forrepresenting more than 5% and less than 25% of the Company’s latest audited net profit for the latest financial year.

The above transactions whichthat involve a public offer of securities, thatwhich requires the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission, shall be subject to approval ofa vote in the shareholders’ general meeting;

 

 (2)a single loan ofrepresenting less than 10% of the Company’s most recently audited net asset value andif the debt ratio to the Company’s assets remains under 60% after such financing;

 

 (3)mortgages or pledges of assets so long as the cumulative outstanding amount of which is less than 30% of the Company’s most recently audited net asset value;

 

 (4)external guarantees that do not withinrequire the approval limit of the shareholders’ general meeting as provided inshareholders pursuant to the Articles of Association; and

 

 (5)transactions involving connected transactions, which have tomust be conducted in accordance with the relevant regulations of competent securities authorities and the listing rules of theapplicable stock exchanges.

The transactions referred to in (1) of the first paragraph involvingthat involve the provision of financial assistance and entrusted financial management, shall beis calculated on an accrued basis for twelve consecutive months according to the transaction categories and applicable approval limit proportion of the Board of Directors. When the Company conducts transactions other transactions apart fromthan the provision of financial assistance and entrusted financial management, applicable approval limit proportion of the Board of Directors regarding each transaction which is under the same category shall be calculated on the principle of accrued basis for twelve consecutive months. Transactions already approved by the Company in accordance with the principle of accrued basis shall not be included in the scope of accrual calculation.

Provision of regulatory authorities the Company is subject to within and outside the PRC that is of a stricter standard than this Article of Association shall apply accordingly.

In addition to obligations imposed by laws, administrative regulations or the listing rules of the stock exchanges on which our Shares are listed, the Articles of Association place on each Director, Supervisor,supervisor, general manager, deputy general manager and any other senior officer a duty to each shareholder, in the exercise of our functions and powers entrusted to such person:

 

not to cause us to exceed the scope of business stipulated in our business license;

 

to act honestly in our best interests;

 

not to expropriate our property in any way, including (without limitation) usurpation of opportunities which benefit us; and

 

not to expropriate the individual rights of shareholders, including (without limitation) rights to distributions and voting rights, save and except pursuant to our restructuring which has been submitted to the shareholders for their approval in accordance with the Articles of Association.

The Articles of Association further place on each Director, Supervisor,supervisor, general manager, deputy general manager and senior officer:

 

a duty in the exercise of such person’s powers and discharge of such person’s duties, to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances;circumstances in the discharge of his or her duties;

 

a fiduciary obligation in the exercise of our powers entrusted to him or her, not to place himself or herself in a position where his or her duty to us and his or herhave interests may conflict;that conflict with the Company’s; and

 

a duty not to direct a person or entity related or connected to the Director, Supervisor,supervisor, general manager, deputy general manager or senior officer in certain relationships enumerated in the Articles of Association to act in a manner which such Director, Supervisor, general manager, deputy general manager or senior officerperson is prohibited from doing.

Subject to compliance with relevant laws and administrative regulations, the shareholders in general meeting may by ordinary resolution remove any Director before the expiration of his term of office. Subject to certain qualifications, a Director, Supervisor,supervisor, general manager, deputy general manager or other senior officer of the Company may be relieved of liability for a specific breach of his or her duties by the informed consent of shareholders in a general meeting.

Directors’ Decision Making Risk Fund

As approved by our shareholders in the 2004 annual shareholders general meeting, held on June 28, 2005, we established a Directors’ Decision Making Risk Fund (“Risk Fund”) to compensate the Directors, Supervisors, Executive Officerssupervisors, executive officers and other applicable personnel for personal economic losses resultedresulting from their performance of duties in accordance with the laws, regulations or our Articles of Association or while attempting to procure legitimate benefits for our Company.

Directors, Supervisors and Management’s Indemnification

As approved atin the 16th2007 general meeting of the third session of the Boardthat was held on April 18,June 26, 2008, we will provide liability insurance for theour Directors, Supervisorssupervisors and Senior Officers of the Companysenior officers with an coverage of up to US$15 million and submit the same for consideration and approval at our 2007 annual general meeting.million.

Audit Committee of the Board of Directors

As approved at the first Board Meeting of the ThirdFourth Session of the Board held on June 28, 2005,27, 2008, the Company set up our audit committee of the Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”).Fourth Session of the Board. The Audit Committeeaudit committee comprises four independent non-executive Directors, namely Mr. Cui Jianmin, Mr. Pu Hongjiu, Mr. Wang XiaojunZhai Xigui, Mr. Li Weian and Mr. Wang Quanxi,Junyan, and two non-executive Directors, namely Mr. Chen Changchun and Mr. Dong Yunqing. Mr. Cui JianminZhai Xigui serves as the Chairman of the Audit Committee.audit committee.

The Audit Committeeaudit committee is mainly responsible for ensuring the independence of the company’s independent auditors to maintain the integrity of audits, proposing the appointment or replacement of the externalindependent audit agencies; reviewing the accounting policies of the Company, the disclosure of the financial information and the procedures for preparing financial reports; and reviewing the Company’s internal control system and risk management system of the Company.systems. The details of the responsibilities of the Audit Committeeaudit committee can be found on our Company’s website at http://www.yanzhoucoal.com.cn/English/company_4_2.asp.

Currently, the members of our audit committee of the Board of Directors are:

 

Name

  Age  

Position

  Ownership of Shares  Age  

Position

  Ownership of Shares

CUI Jianmin

  75  Independent non-executive director  0

ZHAI Xigui

  66  Independent non-executive director  0

PU Hongjiu

  71  Independent non-executive director  0  72  Independent non-executive director  0

WANG Xiaojun

  53  Independent non-executive director  0

WANG Quanxi

  52  Independent non-executive director  0

LI Weian

  52  Independent non-executive director  0

WANG Junyan

  38  Independent non-executive director  0

CHEN Changchun

  55  Affiliated Director  0  56  Affiliated director  0

DONG Yunqing

  52  Employee director  0  53  Employee director  0

As a foreign private issuer, we rely on the exemption under Section 303A.00 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual as well as affiliated director and employee director exemptions as provided under Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) to be in compliance with the audit committee standards set out in Section 303A.06 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. See “ Item“Item 16. — D. Exemptions From Thefrom the Listing Standards For Audit Committees”.

Compensation Committee

Pursuant to a resolution passed on June 28, 2005,27, 2008, our Board of Directors approved and established aour compensation committee.committee of the Fourth Session of the Board. The compensation committee consists of three members: two independent non-executive directors and one employee director. Mr. Wang QuanxiLi Weian was elected to serve as the chairman of the compensation committee. The primary duties of our compensation committee as set out in the committee charter include (i) the drafting and establishment of theestablishing a compensation policiespolicy for theour Directors, Supervisors,supervisors, and the senior officers of the Company and (ii) making recommendations on the recommendation of compensation proposals for theour Directors, Supervisorssupervisors and the senior officers of the Company to the Board of Directors.officers. Further details on the responsibilities of the compensation committee can be found on our website.

Supervisory Committee

We have a supervisory committee comprising fivesix members, onetwo of whom is anare employee representative.representatives. Supervisors serve a term of three years.years and attend Board meetings. The supervisory committee shall beis accountable to the shareholders in a general meeting and shall exerciseexercises the following functions and powers induties accordance with law:

 

to review our periodic reports as prepared by the Board of Directors and to provide written comments;

 

to review our financial position;

 

to supervise the Directors, general manager, deputy general managers and other senior officers to ensure that they do not act in contravention of any law, regulation or our Articles of Association and to recommend for the dismissal of the Directors, general manger, deputy general managers and other senior officers for the breach of law, regulation or our Articles of Association when necessary;those who do;

 

to demand any Director, general manager, deputy general manager or any other senior officer who acts in a manner which is harmful to our interest to rectify such behavior;

 

to verify such financial information such as financial reports, business reports and profit distribution plans to be submitted by the Board of Directors to shareholders’ general meetings and, toif necessary, authorize in our name, publicly certified and practicing accountants to assist in the re-examinationaudit or examination of such information should any doubt arise in respect thereof;financial information;

 

to propose to convenethe convening of shareholders’ extraordinary general meetings and extraordinary board meetings;

 

to make proposals at the shareholders’ general meetings;

to represent usthe Company in negotiations with or in bringing actions against a Director or senior officers; and

 

other functions and powers specified in our Articles of Association.

Supervisors shall attend meetings of the Board of Directors.

Nomination /and Corporate Governance

As of December 31, 20072008 the Yankuang Group held 2,600,000,000 Shares in the form of Legal Person Shares, representing 52.86% of our total shares on the same day. As Yankuang Group holds more than 50% of our voting power, is held by the Yankuang Group, we are a “controlled company” under Section 303A.00 of the NYSE Listing Rules 303A.00.Listed Company Manual. As a result, we are not required to establish a Nomination Committee or Corporate Governance Committee under Sections 303A.04 and 303A.05 of the NYSE Listing Rules. As such, we currently dolisting rules and have not have any such committees.done so.

Arrangement to Purchase Equity or Debt Securities and Other Arrangements

At no time during the year ended December 31, 2007,2008, were we, our Controlling Shareholder or any of our fellowYankuang Group’s subsidiaries a party to any arrangement to enablethat enabled our Directors or Supervisorssupervisors to acquire benefits by means ofthrough the acquisition of any securities, including our equity or debt securities, or any other body corporate with the exception of the A Shares issued to certain of our Directors, Supervisorssupervisors and senior management.

There is no arrangement or understanding between any Director and any major shareholder, customer or supplier in connection with the selection of such Director.

Service Contracts of Directors and Supervisors

Each of the Directors and Supervisorssupervisors has entered into a service contract with us. Under such contracts, each executive director will receive a salary and a discretionary year-end bonus, at such levels as arewhich is proposed by the Board of Directors and approved by theour shareholders of our Company in general meetings, provided that themeetings. The discretionary year-end bonuses paid to our Executive Directorsexecutive directors and other employees (including, but not limited to, our other Directors, Supervisorssupervisors and executive officers) doin any given year may not, in aggregate, exceed 1% of theour net profit after taxation and extraordinary losses but before extraordinary gains for that year.

Save as disclosed herein, noNo Director or Supervisorsupervisor has entered into any service contract with our Company which is not terminablecannot be terminated by us within one year without payment other than statutory compensation.

D. Employees

D.Employees

General

The table below sets forth the number of our employees by function as of the period indicated:

 

   As of December 31,
   2004  2005  2006  2007

Coal production employees

  22,369  23,060  26,548  28,098

Engineers and technicians

  1,023  1,069  1,333  1,599

Management and administrative personnel

  2,055  1,995  2,484  2,732

Support staff

  3,819  3,939  9,420  10,354
            

Total

  29,266  30,063  39,785  42,783
            

   As of December 31,
   2006  2007  2008

Coal production employees

  26,548  28,098  32,297

Engineers and technicians

  1,333  1,599  1,662

Management and administrative personnel

  2,484  2,732  2,895

Support staff

  9,420  10,354  10,535
         

Total

  39,785  42,783  47,389
         

The table below sets forth the number of our employees by locations as of December 31, 2007:2008:

 

Location

  Employees as of
December 31, 2007
  % of Total   Employees as of December 31, 2008  % of Total 

PRC

        

Shandong

  42,248  98.7%  46,844  98.85

Shaanxi

  173  0.4%  190  0.40

Shanxi

  336  0.8%  329  0.69

Australia

  26  0.1%  26  0.05
              

Total

  42,783  100.0%  47,389  100.0
              

The total remuneration of our employees includes wages and bonuses. We paid our employees an aggregate of approximately RMB1,161.4 million, RMB1,645.1 million, RMB2,005.4 million and RMB2,005.4RMB2,448.8 million in wages and bonuses in the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively. The compensation of an employee directly involved in underground mining is based on the production of such employee,employee’s productivity, as well as the productionproductivity of the employee’s mining team. EmployeesWe provide employees and their families also receive certain social welfare benefits and education and health services fromindirectly through the Controlling Shareholder. These benefits are provided in some cases by the Controlling Shareholder, as required by PRC laws, rules and regulations. We, in turn, pay the Controlling Shareholder for all such benefits.

The Controlling Shareholder is responsible for the administration of our employee pension fund and for the provision of retirement benefits to our retirees. According to the Pension Fund Agreement entered into between the Controlling Shareholder and us, we are obligated to set aside the pension fund which equals 45% of the total remuneration paid to our employees, for the Controlling Shareholder to pay the local pension fund authority for and on behalf of our employees and to pay for employee retirement benefits. The welfare of retired employees is administrated by the Controlling Shareholder. The Pension Fund Agreement was renewed in 2002. We and the Controlling Shareholder agreed that the foregoing pension fund plan will be continuously applied from 2002 to 2006. Pursuant to the approval of the Board of Directors, on January 6, 2006, we and the Controlling Shareholder entered into a newan exempted continuing connected transaction based on the Agreement for the Administration of Pension Fund and Retirement Benefit on January 10, 2006 (“Pension Fund and Retirement Benefit Agreement”),. Under this agreement, Yankuang Group is obligated to continuepay the administration of the foregoinglocal pension fund plan. The Pension Fundauthority on behalf of our employees and Retirement Benefit Agreement is for a termto provide our employees with other retirement benefits. In addition, the Controlling Shareholder has undertaken to administer our employees’ benefit plan free of three years.charge. We also carry personal injury insurance for employees.contributed RMB759.4 million in pension contributions.

Our subsidiaries are participants in a State-managed retirement plan pursuant to which the subsidiaries pay a fixed percentage of their qualifying staff’s wages as a contribution to the plan. The subsidiaries’ financial obligations under this plan are limited to the payment of the employer’s contribution. In 2007, contributions payable2008, the amount of contribution paid by the subsidiaries pursuant to this arrangement werewas insignificant.

In 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007, total2008, we paid pension contributions paid by us for our Directors, Supervisors, Executive Officerssupervisors, executive officers and senior management to the pension fund wasof approximately RMB0.7 million, RMB1.0 million, RMB378,000 and RMB400,000,RMB509,000, respectively. In addition, each employee of oursour employee currently pays a percentage of his or her salary as additional pension contribution. Upon retirement, our employees are entitled to the payment of a pension frompayments under the pension plan.

As of the date of this Annual Report,annual report, all of our employees are employed under employment contracts which specify the employee’s position, responsibilities, remuneration and permissible grounds for termination. We have a labor union that protects employees’ rights, aims to assist in the achievement of our economic objectives, encourages employee participation in management decisions and assists in mediating disputes between union members and us. Each of our operating units has a labor union branch. We have not experienced any strikes or other labor disturbances that has interfered with our operations, and we believe that our relations with our employees are strong.

All employees who are unable to work due to illness or disability are entitled to certain benefits during the period of their absence from the work. In addition, the PRC Government requires us to provide casualty and life insurance for each of our employeesemployee who workworks underground in our mining sites. The premium for casualty and life insurance is 2.0%sites through work injury funds. We contribute an amount to the work injury fund equivalent to 2% of theeach employee’s total remuneration of each employee.the prior year.

Medical Insurance Plan

In accordance with the relevant regulations of the Shandong Provincial People’s Government, since January 1, 2002, we have established a basic medical insurance plan for employees, which comprises basic medical insurance and supplementary medical insurance plans. The insurance plans are described below.

 

Basic medical insurance plan – we set aside 8% of the total wages of each employee to a basic medical insurance fund, which recorded in our statement of income as “Wages and Employee Benefits” under “Cost of Sale and Service Provided” and “Selling, General and Administrative Expenses”.

 

Supplementary medical insurance plan – we set aside 4% of the total wages of each employee to a supplementary medical insurance fund. With respect to our coal production employees, the contribution to the supplementary medical insurance fund which iswas recorded inunder “cost of sales and services provided”. With respect to our statement of income as “Supplementary Medical Insurance”administrative employees, the contribution to the supplementary medical insurance fund was recorded under “Selling, General“selling, general and Administrative Expenses”administrative expenses”.

We also carry personal injury insurance for our employees.

Housing Plan

Under the Labor and Supply Agreement, the Controlling Shareholder is partly responsible for providing housing accommodations to our employees. We and the Controlling Shareholder share the incidental expenses relating to the provision of housing accommodation on a pro rata basis based on our respective number of employees and mutual agreement.other negotiations. Such expenses amounted to RMB37.2 million, RMB86.2 million, and RMB86.3 million and RMB86.2 million for 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, respectively.

Beginning 2002, we have paid to our employees a housing allowance, which is calculated based on a fixed percentage of each employee’s wage to assist the employee’semployees in their purchase of residential housing. In 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2007,2008, we paid housing allowances paid by us to employees that amounted to RMB146.9 million, RMB165.6 million, RMB176.2 million and RMB176.2RMB193.6 million, respectively.

E. Share Ownership

E.Share Ownership

No Director, Supervisorsupervisor or member of senior management who received compensation as described in subsection B above owns more than one percent of our outstanding Shares. See “ Item“Item 6. — A. Directors, Supervisors and Senior Management”.

We have not granted and have no plan to grant options for our Shares or other equity-linked securities to our employees. We have not and have no plan to implement any share bonus scheme for employees.

 

ITEM 7.MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

A. Major Shareholders

A.Major Shareholders

As of December 31, 2007,2008, the Controlling Shareholder owned 52.86% of our share capital (see table below).capital. As a majority shareholder, the Controlling Shareholder is able to make most of the decisions adopted by us. Currently, all of our ordinaryreserved for shareholders enjoy equal voting rights.

The following table sets forth certain information regarding ownership of our capital stock as of December 31, 2007,2008, after implementation of the share reform plan, by all persons who are known by us to own beneficially more than 5% of our capital stock.

 

Identity of Person or Group

  

Title of Class

  Shares Owned as of
December 31, 2007
  Percentage2 of
Capital Stock as of
December 31, 2007
 
Controlling Shareholder  Ordinary Shares in the form of Legal Person Shares, par value RMB1.00 each  2,600,000,000  52.86%
HKSCC Nominee Limited*  Ordinary Shares in the form of H Shares, par value RMB1.00 each  1,956,662,746  39.78%

Title of Class

  

Identity of Person or Group

  Shares Owned as of
December 31, 2008
  Percentage of Capital Stock
as of December 31, 2008
 
Ordinary Shares in the form of Legal Person Shares, par value RMB1.00 each  Controlling Shareholder  2,600,000,000  52.86
Ordinary Shares in the form of H Shares, par value RMB1.00 each  HKSCC Nominee Limited*  1,956,015,546  39.77

 

*As the nominee of the clearing and settlement agent for our H Shares, HKSCC Nominee Limited is the record holder of our H Shares.

Except as described in the table above, we are not aware of any holder of more than 5% of any seriesclass of our shares. Our major shareholders do not have voting rights different from that of other shareholders. We are not awareAll of any arrangement which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control over us.

As of December 31, 2007 and June 20, 2007, there were 1,956,662,746 H Shares issued and outstanding. As of May 31, 2008, there were 74 registered holders of American depositary receipts evidencing 3,338,368 ADSs. Since certain of the ADS Shares were held by nominees, the above number of U.S. beneficial holders of ADSs or the number of ADSs beneficially held by U.S. persons.our ordinary shareholders enjoy equal voting rights for each share that they hold.

To our knowledge, other than the Controlling Shareholder, which owns 52.86% of our Shares, we are not owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by any other corporation, by any government, or by any other natural or legal person or persons, severallyjointly or jointly.severally. We are not aware of any arrangement which may at a subsequent date result in a change of control over us.

B.B. Related Party Transactions

Continuing Connected Transactions

The Continuing Connected Transactionscontinuing connected transactions between our Company and the Controlling Shareholder for the year 2007 include2008 included the following:

 

 1.Supply of Materials and Services

Details of on-goingarrangement to supply of materials and services between our Company and Yankuang Group, as our Controlling Shareholder, for the year 2007in 2008 are shown in the following table.

 

No.

  

Types of Connected Transactions

  

Agreement

  Annual cap for the
year 2007
(RMB’000)
  Transaction for the
year 2007

(RMB’000)
 

Connected Transactions

 

Agreement

  Annual cap for
2008
(RMB’000)
  Transaction
amount for
2008
(RMB’000)

Expenditure

Expenditure

Expenditure

     

1.

  Materials and water purchased from Yankuang Group  Provision of Materials and Water Supply Agreement  565,200  454,649 Materials and water purchased from Yankuang Group Provision of Materials and Water Supply Agreement  595,200  471,768

2.

  Fuel and power purchased from Yankuang Group  Provision of Electricity Agreement  400,000  368,993 Fuel and power purchased from Yankuang Group Provision of Electricity Agreement  420,000  355,902

3.

  Labor and services provided by Yankuang Group  Provision of Labor and Services Agreement  912,700  718,482 Labor and services provided by Yankuang Group Provision of Labor and Services Agreement  963,700  677,260

4.

  Maintenance and repair services provided by Yankuang Group  Provision of Equipment Maintenance and Repair Works Agreement  300,000  215,102 Maintenance and repair services provided by Yankuang Group Provision of Equipment Maintenance and Repair Works Agreement  320,000  253,864

5.

  Products and materials sold to Yankuang Group  Provision of Products and Materials Agreement  3,050,000  1,610,106 Products and materials sold to Yankuang Group Provision of Products and Materials Agreement ��3,250,000  1,935,401

 

 2.Mining Rights Fee

Upon approval by the relevant state-owned assets management and coal industry management authorities when the Company was incorporated, and pursuant to the Mining Right Agreement dated October 1997 and its supplemental agreement dated February 1998 entered into between the Company and Yankuang Group, the Company shall pay RMB13 million per year to Yankuang Group for the mining rights of the five mines owned by the Company: Nantun, Xinglongzhuang, Dongtan, Baodian and Jining II (the “Five Coal Mines”). Yankuang Group will collect mining rights fee for ten years beginning 1997. If there are any applicable new regulations governing the payment of mining rights fee promulgated by the State after the ten years, such regulations will apply.

During this reporting period, the Company paid RMB13.0 million to Yankuang Group each year for the mining right of the Five Coal Mines.

Pursuant to the “Implementing Plan for Reform of the Mining Rights Fee” (“the Plan”, jointly issued by the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Land and Resources, and the National Development and Reform Commission, and subsequently approved by the State Council in September 2006), enterprises that have acquired state-funded mining right without paying a fee should, from the effective date of the Plan, pay a mining fee based on the evaluation of the remaining resource in each province. Although Shandong Province is one of those provinces mentioned in the Plan, as of the date of this Annual Report, Shandong Province has not announced any measure that details the payment of mining right fees.

3.Payment of Endowment Insurance Fund

Pursuant to the Provision of Administrative Services for Pension Fund and Retirement Benefits Agreement dated January 10, 2006, Yankuang Group has undertakenundertook to manage, without compensation, the Company’s pension insurance fund for itsour employees and the payment of pension and other benefits to the Company’s retirees(theretirees (the “Endowment Insurance Fund”). Under the agreement, the Company will make monthly contributions to Yankuang Group equivalent to 45% of the aggregate monthly basic salaries and wages of the Company’s employees from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008. The annual amount for the Endowment Insurance Fund for the year 20072008 paid by the Company as approved at the Fourth Meeting of the Third Session of the Board on March 4, 2006 was RMB695 million. The amount actually paid by the Company was RMB692.9RMB760.0 million. This transaction constitutes an exempt continuing connected transaction, which has been approved by the Board.

The opinionsOpinions of the Independent Non-executive Directors

Our Independent Non-executiveindependent non-executive Directors have reviewed the Continuing Connected Transactionscontinuing connected transactions in the year 20072008 and confirmed that: (1)that all such connected transactions have been: (a)(i) entered into by us in the ordinary and usual course of our business; (b)business, (ii) conducted either on normal commercial terms, or where there are not sufficient comparable transactions to judge whether they are on normal commercial terms, on terms no less favorable to us than terms available to or from independent third parties;parties, and (c)(iii) entered into in accordance with the relevant agreement governing them on terms that are fair and reasonable and in the interests of the Shareholders as a whole; and (2)whole. The independent Directors also determined that the value of the connected transactions in respect of the on-going supply of materials and services stated under “1. Supply“Supply of Materials and Services” above has not exceededdid exceed the annual cap for the year 20072008 approved by independent shareholders on March 24, 2006.

Pursuant to Rule 14A.38 of the Hong Kong Listing Rules,applicable regulations, the Directors engaged the auditors of the Company to perform certain agreed upon procedures in respect of the continuing connected transactions of the Company. The auditors have reported their factual findings on these procedures to the Directors.

For the years ended December 31, 2005, 2006 and 2007, we had the following continuing connected transactions with the Controlling Shareholder and/or its subsidiary companies:

   Year ended December 31,
   2005  2006  2007
   (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)

Income

      

Sales of coal

  856,580  1,069,879  1,014,963

Sales of auxiliary materials

  369,855  496,221  595,143

Utilities and facilities

  29,000  —    —  

Expenditure

      

Utilities and facilities

  355,953  358,370  377,074

Annual fee for mining rights

  12,980  12,980  12,980

Purchases of supply materials and equipment

  341,935  458,329  454,469

Repair and maintenance services

  197,624  246,841  215,102

Social welfare and support services

  242,952  406,004  313,062

Technical support and training

  15,130  20,000  20,000

Road transportation services

  53,346  63,448  60,718

Construction services

  —    306,658  316,801

Approval of Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements and the Annual Caps for 2006, 20072009, 2010 and 20082011

As required by the rules of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Shanghai Stock Exchange on continuing connected transactions, we completed the necessary review and approval procedures for our continuing connected transactions and continued or entered into sixfive New Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements in the first quarter of 2006.2009. The New Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements include the Provision of Materials and Water Supply Agreement, Provision of Electricity Agreement, Provision of Labor and Services Supply Agreement, Provision of Equipment Maintenance and Repair WorksPension Fund Administrative Agreement, Provision of Coal Products and ServicesMaterials Agreement and Provision of Administrative Services for Pension FundElectricity and Retirement BenefitsHeat Agreement with the Controlling Shareholder. We also determined the annual caps for each of the New Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements for 2006, 20072009, 2010 and 2008.2011.

In accordance with applicable listing rules, the New Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements and the annual caps were approved by the Board at a meeting held on January 6, 2006, and the shareholders meeting held on March 24, 2006.23 December 2008. The term for each of the New Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements is from January 1, 20062009 to December 31, 2008.2011. The Materials and Services Supply Agreement and its supplementary agreement andEnglish translations for the Agreement of Endowment Insurance Fund originally entered into between us and the Yankuang Group have been terminated. TheNew Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements are filed with this Annual Reportannual report as Exhibit 4.1.

For the years ended December 31, 2006, 2007 and 2008, we had the following continuing connected transactions with the Controlling Shareholder or its subsidiary companies:

   Year ended December 31,
   2006  2007  2008
   (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)

Income

      

Sales of coal

  1,069,879  1,014,963  1,384,415

Sales of auxiliary materials

  496,221  595,143  550,986

Expenditure

      

Utilities and facilities

  358,370  377,074  376,288

Annual fee for mining rights

  12,980  12,980  —  

Purchases of supply materials and equipment

  458,329  454,469  471,768

Repair and maintenance services

  246,841  215,102  253,864

Social welfare and support services

  406,004  313,062  255,265

Technical support and training

  20,000  20,000  20,000

Road transportation services

  63,448  60,718  86,671

Construction services

  306,658  316,801  294,938

Acquisition of connected assets

The purchaseAcquisition of 74% Equity Interest in Hua Ju Energy

Our shareholders approved the acquisition of 74% equity interest in Hua Ju Energy held by our Controlling Shareholder, Yankuang Group, for RMB593.2 million. On February 18, 2009, the transfer of the mining rightsequity interest was completed. The English translation of the acquisition agreement is filed with the annual report as Exhibit 4.2.

The Purchase of the Mining Rights of Zhaolou Coal Mine by Heze Nenghua

The Company acquired 95.67% equity interest in Heze Nenghua from Yankuang Group in December 2005. According to the relevant acquisition agreements, Heze Nenghua has the right to acquire mining rights of Zhaolou Coal Mine at any time within 12 months from Yankuang Group’s acquisition of the mining rights of Zhaolou Coal Mine.

On June 28, 2006, Yankuang Group obtained the mining right permit of Zhaolou Coal Mine from the Ministry of Land and Resources. At the first extraordinary general meeting of the Company for the year 2008 held on January 30, January, 2008, the purchase of the mining rights of Zhaolou Coal Mine by Heze Nenghua from Yankuang Group for a consideration of RMB747.3 million was approved. On May 5, 2008, we obtained the mining rights when the acquisition was also approved by the relevant regulatory authorities in charge of national land and resources.

Installation Payments for the Mining Rights of Jining III Coal Mine

The acquisition of 2% equity interest in Shanxi Nenghua

As approved byJining III Coal Mine Acquisition Agreement entered into between the by the general manager in an daily operating meeting on January 29, 2007, we acquired 2% equity interest in Shanxi Nenghua from Lunan Fertilizer Plant, a subsidiary ofCompany and Yankuang Group in 2000 set the consideration for the mining rights of Jining III Coal Mine at approximately RMB15.0RMB132.5 million. FollowingPursuant to the completionacquisition agreement, the consideration is to be paid to Yankuang Group in ten annual installments, free of allinterest, beginning 2001. Accordingly, the proceduresCompany paid RMB13.2 million to transferYankuang Group in the equity interest on February 5, 2007, we wholly own Shanxi Nenghua.year of 2008.

Amounts due to the Controlling Shareholder and its subsidiaries

The amounts due to the Controlling Shareholder and its subsidiary companies do no bear interest and are unsecured. The amounts due to the Controlling Shareholder and its subsidiary companies as of December 31, 2007 includedinclude the present value of the balance that arose from the funding of the acquisition of the mining rightrights of Jining III on January 1, 2001 that are discounted using the market rate of bank borrowings. The following table sets forth the amounts due to the Controlling Shareholder and its subsidiary companies as of December 31, 20062007 and 2007:2008:

 

   As of December 31, 
   2006  2007 
   RMB’000  RMB’000 

Term for Repayment

   

Within one year

  982,347  669,275 

More than one year, but not exceeding two years

  8,181  7,703 

More than two years, but not exceeding three years

  7,704  7,253 

More than three years, but not exceeding four years

  7,253  —   

More than four years, but not exceeding five years

  —    —   
       

Total due

  1,005,485  684,231 
       

Less: amount due within one year

  (982,347) (669,275)

Amount due after one year

  23,138  14,956 
       

   As of December 31, 
   2007  2008 
   (RMB’000)  (RMB’000) 

Term for Repayment

   

Within one year

  669,275   706,328  

More than one year, but not exceeding two years

  7,703   7,253  

More than two years, but not exceeding three years

  7,253   —    
       

Total due

  684,231   713,581  
       

Less: amount due within one year

  (669,275 (706,328

Amount due after one year

  14,956   7,253  
       

Except for the payments disclosed above, the remaining amounts due to the Controlling Shareholder and/or its subsidiary companies are repayable on demand.

Transactions/ balance with other state-controlled entities in the PRC

We operate in an economic environment currently predominated by entities directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the PRC Government (“state-controlled entities”). In addition, we are part of a larger group of companies under the Controlling Shareholder whichthat is controlled by the PRC Government. Apart from the transactions with the Controlling Shareholder and fellow subsidiaries and other related parties disclosed above, we also conduct business with other state-controlled entities. Our Directors consider those state-controlled entities as independent third parties so far as our business transactions with them are concerned.

In establishing our pricing strategies and approval process for transactions with other state-controlled entities, we do not differentiate whether the counter-partycounter party is a state-controlled entity or not.

Material transactions with other state-controlled entities are as follows:

 

  As of December 31,  As of December 31,
  2005  2006  2007  2006  2007  2008
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Trade sales

  3,855,545  4,600,606  6,035,156  4,600,606  6,035,156  10,253,998
         

Trade purchases

  1,607,729  1,568,658  1,056,959  1,568,658  1,056,959  1,328,958
         

Material balances with other state-controlled entities are as follows:

 

  As of December 31,  As of December 31,
  2006  2007  2007  2008
  RMB’000  RMB’000  (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)

Amounts due from other state-controlled entities

  345,914  339,979  339,979  364,420
      

Amounts due to other state-controlled entities

  301,117  311,922  311,922  294,888
      

In addition, we have entered into various transactions, including depositsdeposit placements, borrowings and other general banking facilities, with certain banks and financial institutions whichthat are state-controlled entities in its ordinary course of business. In view of the nature of those banking transactions, our Directors are of the opinion that separate disclosure would not be necessary.

Except as disclosed above, our Directors are of the opinion that transactions with other state-controlled entities are not significant to our operations.

Interest of Management in certain transactions

None of the Directors or Supervisorssupervisors or Executive Officersexecutive officers had, either directly or indirectly, any material interest in any significant material contract to which we were a party during the year ended December 31, 2007.

2008.

ITEM 8.ITEM 8.FINANCIAL INFORMATION

A. Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

A.Consolidated Statements and Other Financial Information

You should read “Item 18. Financial Statements” for information regarding our audited consolidated financial statements and other financial information.

Legal Proceedings and Arbitration

In 2004, we made an entrusted loan of RMB640 million to Shandong Xin Jia Industrial Company Limited (the “Entrusted Loan”) that was secured by 289 million shares of Huaxia Bank Company Limited (the “Huaxia Shares”). Following a default on the payment of the Entrusted Loan, the Huaxia Shares were disposed in a court-ordered auction to repay the Entrusted Loan. In December 2006, Shandong Runhua Group Co., Ltd. (“Runhua Group”) filed a competing claim of ownership for 240 million shares of the Huaxia Shares. The Supreme Court of the People’s Republic of China mediated the claims and proposed an arrangement that thewas accepted by all of the relevant parties. Pursuant to the arrangement, we released our security interest on 200 Huaxia Shares in return for Runhua Group’s settlement of the principal and interest on the Entrusted Loan. As of May 30, 2008, we had recovered RMB780RMB780.0 million, representing the full principal and accrued interest ofon the Entrusted Loan.

Except as disclosed, the Company waswe were not involved in any other significant litigation or arbitration during the reporting period.

Dividend Policy

According to our Articles of Associations, we will pay dividends once a year. The Shareholders shall by way of an ordinary resolution authorize our Board of Directors to declare and pay the final dividends. We may distribute dividends in the form of cash or shares. Pursuant to the amendedour Articles of Association, as approved during the annual shareholders general meeting on June 28, 2006, our after-tax profit shall be allocated in accordance with the following order: (1) compensation of losses; (2) allocation to the statutory common reserve fund; (3) allocation to the discretionary common reserve fund upon approval by resolution of the shareholders’ general meeting; (4) dividend payments of ordinary shares. If our statutory common reserve fund is not sufficient to compensate our losses from the previous year, we will utilize our after-tax profit to compensate our losses before making any provision for the statutory common reserve fund.

B. Significant Changes

B.Significant Changes

We have not experienced any significant changes since the date of the consolidated financial statements to this Annual Report.annual report.

 

ITEM 9.THE OFFER AND LISTING

A. Offer and Listing Details

A.Offer and Listing Details

The follow tables setsset forth a summary of the issuance of our Shares:

 

   H Shares  A Shares
   Initial
offering
  Second
offering
  Third
offering
  Initial
offering
  Second
offering

Time of issuance

  March 1998  May 2001  July 2004  June 1998  January 2001

Issue amount

  850,000,000  170,000,000  204,000,000  80,000,000  100,000,000

As of December 31, 2007,2008, our share capital structure was as follows:

 

Type

  Number of shares  Proportion 

Listed shares with restricted trading condition

  2,600,061,800  52.8640%

State legal person share

  2,600,000,000  52.8627%

Domestic natural person share

  61,800  0.0013%

Listed shares without trading condition

  2,318,338,200  47.1360%

A Shares

  359,938,200  7.3182%

H Shares

  1,958,400,000  39.8178%

Total

  4,918,400,000  100.0000%

Type

  Number of shares  Proportion 

Listed shares with restricted trading condition

  2,600,041,800  52.8636

Promoter Shares

  2,600,000,000  52.8627

A Shares held by our Directors, supervisors and executive officers

  41,800  0.0009

Listed shares without trading condition

  2,318,358,200  47.1364

A Shares

  359,958,200  7.3186

H Shares

  1,958,400,000  39.8178

Total

  4,918,400,000  100.0

As of December 31, 2007,2008, we had 2,600,061,800 tradable2,600,041,800 listed shares that were subject to trading restrictions, substantially all of which are held by our Controlling Shareholder on behalf of the State and the remainder by our Directors, Supervisorssupervisors and Executive Officers.executive officers.

In the year 2007,2008, the change of our listed Shares subject to trading restrictions was as follows:

 

Shareholders

  Shares subject
to trading
restrictions as

of January 1,
2007
(shares)
  Shares released
from trading
restrictions

in 2007
(shares)
  Increase in
Shares subject
to trading
restrictions

in 2007
(shares)
  Shares subject
to trading
restrictions as

of December 31,
2007

(share)
  

Basis for

trading

restriction

  Shares subject
to trading
restrictions as
of January 1,
2008

(shares)
  Shares released
from trading
restrictions in
2008
(shares)
  Increase in
Shares subject
to trading
restrictions in
2008

(shares)
  Shares subject
to trading
restrictions as
of December 31,
2008

(share)
  

Basis for
imposition of or

release from

trading

restriction

Yankuang Group

  2,600,000,000  0  0  2,600,000,000  share reform plan  2,600,000,000  0  0  2,600,000,000  share reform plan

Yang Deyu

  20,000  0  0  20,000  shares held by  20,000  0  0  20,000  

shares held by

Directors,

supervisors, and executive officers

Wu Yuxiang

  20,000  0  0  20,000  directors,  20,000  0  0  20,000  

Song Guo

  1,800  0  0  1,800  

Meng Xianchang

  20,000  0  0  20,000  supervisors, and  20,000  20,000  0  0  Mr. Meng ceased to be our supervisor on June 26, 2008

Song Guo

  3,000  3,000  1,800  1,800  executive officers
                              

Total

  2,600,063,000  3,000  1,800  2,600,061,800  —    2,600,061,800  20,000  —    2,600,041,800  —  
                              

Capitalization of capital reserve and our capital structure as of December 31, 2007:2008:

During the reporting period of this Annual Report,annual report, our capital reserve did not change. Our shareholding structure as of the beginning and end of 20072008 was as follows:

 

   Number of shares
as of January 1,
2007
  Increase/decrease
in shares during

the year
  Number of shares
as of December 31,

2007

1.      Restricted Shares

  2,600,063,000  (1,200) 2,600,061,8800

2.      Unrestricted Shares

  2,318,400,000  1,200  2,318,338,200

A Shares

  2,318,337,000  1,200  2,318,338,200

H Shares

  1,958,400,000  —    1,958,400,000

Total

  4,918,400,000  —    4,918,400,000
   Number of shares as of
January 1, 2008
  Increase/decrease in
shares during the year
  Number of shares as of
December 31, 2008

1. Restricted Shares

  2,600,061,800  (20,000 2,600,041,800

Promoter Shares

  2,600,000,000  —     2,600,000,000

A Shares held by our Directors, supervisors and executive officers

  61,800  (20,000 41,800

2. Unrestricted Shares

  2,318,338,200  20,000   2,318,358,200

A Shares

  359,938,200  20,000   359,958,200

H Shares

  1,958,400,000  —     1,958,400,000

3. Total

  4,918,400,000  —     4,918,400,000

The table below sets out certain market information relating to the H Shares, ADSs and A Shares for the periods indicated:

 

  Price per H Share
(HK$)
  Price per ADS
(US$)
  Price per A Share
(RMB)
  Price per H Share
(HK$)
  Price per ADS
(US$)
  Price per A Share
(RMB)
  High  Low  High  Low  High  Low  High  Low  High  Low  High  Low

Annual highs and lows

                        

2003

  8.20  2.625  53.20  17.80  11.29  7.53

2004

  12.45  5.20  79.50  33.25  15.82  10.88  12.45  5.20  15.9  6.65  15.82  10.88

2005

  12.30  4.75  78.95  30.70  14.09  4.92  12.30  4.75  15.79  6.14  14.09  4.92

2006

  7.50  4.58  48.80  29.31  8.90  5.70  7.50  4.58  9.76  5.86  8.90  5.70

2007

  17.82  6.28  116.73  40.03  27.68  14.10  17.82  6.28  23.35  8.01  27.68  7.07

2008

  17.94  2.98  22.9  4.04  26.99  7.60

Quarterly highs and lows

                        

2006

            

First quarter

  6.90  5.00  44.14  32.43  7.79  5.91

Second quarter

  7.50  4.58  48.80  29.31  8.90  6.00

Third quarter

  5.96  5.04  38.25  32.63  7.77  5.70

Fourth quarter

  6.54  5.10  42.45  33.09  7.48  5.90

2007

                        

First quarter

  8.45  6.28  53.42  40.03  9.95  7.07  8.45  6.28  10.68  8.01  9.95  7.07

Second quarter

  12.10  7.57  76.80  48.63  17.29  9.23  12.10  7.57  15.36  9.73  17.29  9.23

Third quarter

  17.26  9.00  109.48  63.83  24.96  14.10  17.26  9.00  21.90  12.77  24.96  14.10

Fourth quarter

  17.82  11.82  116.73  78.37  27.68  17.15  17.82  11.82  23.35  15.67  27.68  17.15

2008

            

First quarter

  16.80  8.96  21.3  11.5  24.68  17.32

Second quarter

  17.94  10.80  22.9  14.38  26.99  13.75

Third quarter

  15.82  7.50  20.24  9.99  22.09  9.50

Fourth quarter

  8.47  2.98  10.72  4.04  12.29  7.60

Monthly highs and lows

                        

2007

            

2008

            

December

  16.50  13.56  107.22  88.02  22.48  18.98  6.40  3.98  8.08  4.88  10.77  8.23

2008

            

2009

            

January

  16.80  10.58  106.5  74.21  24.68  18.51  7.10  4.73  9.08  6.20  10.35  8.40

February

  14.80  12.70  93.22  80.46  21.45  17.88  5.89  4.43  7.81  5.55  12.72  9.75

March

  13.20  8.96  84.75  57.50  23.00  17.32  6.05  4.00  7.78  5.11  13.35  9.50

April

  14.96  10.80  93.59  71.90  22.45  13.75  8.20  5.55  10.56  7.33  16.81  12.60

May

  17.94  14.40  113.18  90.68  22.99  22.69  10.02  7.65  12.72  9.60  16.69  14.17

June (through June 20, 2008)

  17.50  13.70  114.50  85.85  24.61  18.00

June (through June 19, 2009)

  11.70  9.75  15.00  12.29  15.77  14.61

 

Notes:

1.In 2005, we implemented a resolution approved at the 2004 annual general meeting to issue bonus shares through capitalization of capital reserve. Based on the total share capital of 3,074 million shares of the Company as of December 31, 2004, six bonus shares were issued for every ten existing shares. As a result of capitalization of capital reserve, our share capital has changed as follows: i) number of State Legal Person Sharesstate legal person shares held by our Yankuang Group increased from 1,670 million shares to 2,672 million shares; ii) number of unrestricted A Shares increased from 180 million shares to 288 million shares; iii) number of H Shares increased from 1,224 million shares to 1,958.4 million shares.
2.On March 31, 2006, we implemented the Share Reform Plan, pursuant to which, Yankuang Group was granted the right to list and trade it formerly non-tradeable shares on the Shanghai Stock Exchange. Yankuang Group paid a consideration of 2.5 non-tradable shares for every ten shares to each A Share holder of record as of March 30, 2006 in exchange for the right to list and trade its shares. Upon the implementation of the Share Reform Plan, the State Legal Person Sharesshare held by our Yankuang Group changed from unlisted shares to tradable shares subject to a 48-month trading moratorium, and our share capital changed as follows: i) the number of State Legal PersonPromoter Shares decreased from 2,672 million shares to 2,600 million shares: ii) the number of unrestricted A Shares increased from 288 million shares to 360 million shares; and iii) the number of H Shares remained at 1,958.4 million shares.
3.Effective in June 2008, the Company's ADS ratio was changed from one ADS representing 50 H Shares to one ADS representing 10 H Shares. The comparative figures of all period presented have been adjusted accordingly.

As of December 31, 2007,2008, a total of 1,958,400,000 H Shares were outstanding, of which approximately 166,918,400189,191,050 H shares or 3.39%9.66% of the outstanding H Shares, were held in the form of 3,338,36818,919,105 ADSs. The outstanding ADSs were held collectively by 74106 holders of record on May 31, 2008.

Issuance and listing of new American depositary shares in connection with ratio change

The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited is the principal non-US trading market for our H Shares. Our ADSs, each represent 50ten H Shares, have been issued by the Bank of New York Mellon as

depositary and are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. On April 18, 2008, the Board of Directors approved an resolution to change the ratio of our ADSs to H Shares from one ADS representing 50 H Shares to one ADS representing ten10 H Shares. The ratio change will be effectedwas made with respect to the ADS holders of record on May 28, 2008, and the change became effective on June 27, 2008. 15,661,708 newNew ADSs will be issued aswere distributed to ADS holders on July 3, 2008.

Repurchase, sale or redemption of H shares

In the shareholders’ meeting held on June 27, 2008, shareholder granted our Board of Directors a result of the proposed ratio change, and nogeneral mandate to issue additional H Shares willrepresenting no more than 20% of the outstanding H Shares. In the same shareholders’ meeting and separately in the class meetings of the A and H shareholder respectively on January 23, 2009, our shareholders granted the Board of Directors a general mandate to repurchase up to 10% of the outstanding H Shares. The Board of Directors, resolved to discuss these two general mandates in the 2008 general shareholders’ meeting to be issued when the ratio change become effective.held on June 26, 2009. As of the date of this Annual Report,annual report, the ratio changeCompany has not become effective.repurchased, issued or redeemed any of its outstanding Shares.

B. Plan of Distribution

B.Plan of Distribution

Not applicable.

C. Markets

C.Markets

Our Shares are currently listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange under the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission. The principal trading market for the H Shares is the Hong Kong Stock Exchange. The ADSs have been issued by The Bank of New York Mellon, acting as Depositary Bank, and are listed on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol “YZC”. Prior to the initial public offering and subsequent listings on the Hong Kong and New York Stock Exchanges on April 1, 1998 and March 31, 1998, respectively, there was no market for the H Shares or the ADSs. For market price information on the exchanges on which our securities are listed, please see “– A. Offer and Listing Details”.

D. Selling Shareholders

Not applicable.

E. Dilution

Not applicable.

F. Expenses of the Issue

D.Selling Shareholders

Not applicable.

 

ITEM 10.E.Dilution

Not applicable.

F.Expenses of the Issue

Not applicable.

ITEM 10.ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

A. Share Capital

A.Share Capital

Not applicable.

B. Memorandum and Articles of Association

General

B.Memorandum and Articles of Association

Since our Articles of Association became effective on September 25, 1997, the PRC Government and other regulatory authorities have promulgated various rules, regulations and opinions which primarily include Theincluding the Securities Laws of the PRC, the General Meeting Opinions, the Independent Director Guiding Opinions, Regulations in Connection with Protection of Public Shareholders, and the Guide for Articles of Association of Listed Companies, as amended in 2006. The supervisory authorities requireAs a listed companiescompany, we are required to incorporate these rules, regulations and opinions into their articlesour Articles of associationsAssociations as appropriate.

Selected Summary of the Articles of Association

A copy of the English translation of our Articles of Association was filed with the Commission as an exhibit to theour registration statement on Form F-1 under the Securities Act in connection with the global offering of our H Shares and related American Depositary Shares on October 17,in 1997. The following is a summary of the dates when theSince then, our Articles of Association werehave been amended on the following dates and filed with the Commission:

 

Date of amendment ofto the Articles of Association

  

Method of filingFiling

April 22, 2002

  Appendix to 2001 20-F

June 25, 2004

  Appendix to 2003 20-F

July 8, 2004

  Appendix to 2004 20-F

June 28, 2005

  

August 22, 2005

  Appendix to 2005 20-F

June 28, 2006

  

November 10, 2006

  Appendix to 2006 20-F

June 15, 2007

  Appendix to 2007 20-F

January 30, 2008

December 23, 2008

Appendix to this 20-F

During

The following is a summary of certain provisions of the reporting periodCompany’s Articles of this Annual Report, we made amendmentsAssociation, which is qualified in its entirety by reference to the English translation of our Articles of Association on June 15, 2007. Certain amendmentsincluded as Appendix 4.1 to our Articles of Association were resolved at our extraordinary general meeting on January 30, 2008. However, the amendments made on January 30, 2008 have not been approved by the relevant authorities and have not taken effect as of the date of this Annual Report.annual report.

Selected Summary of the Articles of AssociationObjects and Purposes

We are a joint stock limited company established in accordance with the “Company Law”, “State Council’s Special Regulations Regarding the Issue of Shares Overseas and the Listing of Shares Overseas by Companies Limited by Share” and other relevant laws and administrative regulations of the State. We were established by way of promotion with the approval of the former State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System on September 24, 1997, as evidenced by approval document Ti Gai Sheng (1997) No. 154 of 1997. We were registered with and have obtained a business license from Shandong Provincial Administration Bureau of Industry and Commerce on September 25, 1997. Our business license number is: Qi Gu Lu Zong Fu Zi No. 003929-1/1.370000400001016.

According to Article 12 of our Articles of Association, as amended on June 15, 2008, our scope of business includes: selection and sale of coal (among others, the export of coal should be made through companies with coal export right according to the existing state regulations);coal; transportation of goods through self-owned railway within the mining area;our railway; transportation of goods through highway;highways; operation of ports; manufacture, sale, lease and repair of relevant mining equipments;equipment; production and sale of other mining materials; sale and lease of electronic equipmentsequipment and sale of parts; sale of metallic materials, electronic products, construction materials, timber, rubber products and methanol; composition of mining, science and technological services; property development within the mining areas, property leasing and provision of services such as dining and accommodation; and production and sale of coal residual stones as construction materials.

Board of Directors

Directors who are not staff representatives shall be elected or removed at the shareholders’ general meeting. The staff directors shall be elected by the staff in staff representative meetings or by

other democratic methods. Directors shall be elected for a term of three years. At the expiry of the term, it shall be renewable upon re-election. A director may not be removed by the shareholders in a general meeting without any reason before his term of office expires. The Board of Directors is accountable to the shareholders in general meeting.meetings and exercises the powers granted to it by the Articles of Association.

Directors who are not staff representatives are elected or removed at shareholders’ general meetings. Staff Directors are elected in staff representative meetings or by other democratic methods. All Directors are elected for a term of three years, which can be renewed by re-election at the expiry of the term, unless an Director is removed for cause during his term.

We have established a system of independent Directors and currently have four independent Directors. The independentIndependent Directors do not hold any positions in the Company other than their role as directordirectors and do not maintain with us andor our substantial shareholders a connection which may hamper their independent and objective judgment. Apart fromIn addition to the powers granted to directorsDirectors by the Company Law and other relevant laws, regulations and the Articles of Association, the independent Directors shall have the following special powers:

 

 (i)Aa majority of the independent Directors must agree to the engagement of substantial connected transactions, as determined in accordance with the standards promulgated from time to time by the regulatory organizations of the place where the Company’s shares are listed, and the appointment of accounting firm(s) before submitting such decisions to the Board of Directors;

 

 (ii)Aa majority of the independent Directors may call an extraordinary general meeting for the Board of Directors, propose a board meeting, and publicly collect proxy votes from shareholders before shareholders’ general meetings; and

 (iii)Withwith the consent of a majority of the independent Directors, the independent Directors may independently engage external auditors and consultants to provide audit and consultation for specific Company matters, with the Company bearing the associated costs.

If the above recommendations are not accepted or the above powers cannot be exercised ordinarily, the Company shall disclose the circumstances accordingly.

The Articles do not contain requirements for any Directors (i) to retire by a specified age, or (ii) to own any or a specified numberArticle 224 of our Shares.Articles of Association places a general prohibition on a Director voting in respect of any contract, transaction or arrangement in which he, directly or indirectly through an associate, has a material interest. When a Director may have a conflict of interest, he must declare the nature and extent of his interest to the Board of Directors. Unless the interested Director discloses his interests and the contract, transaction or arrangement is approved by the Board of Directors at a meeting in which the interested Director is not counted as part of the quorum nor permitted to vote, the contract, transaction or arrangement may be voidable at the election of the Company.

OurSimilarly, our Articles provide that when passing a resolution in relation to connected transaction, at a board meeting, or where any Director or any of its associates (as defined under the Listing Rules of the Stock Exchange of Hong Kong) is connected with such resolution, such connected director shallmust recuse himself or herself from the Board of Directors’ meeting, shall not have any voting rights in respect thereof, shall not exercise any voting rights on behalf of other Directors and shall not be counted as part of the quorum of the Board of Directors’ meeting. A quorum at a meeting is formed when a majority of the non-connected Directors attend and the resolution can be passed by a majority of the non-connected Directors approve such transaction. If less than three non-connected Directors attend the Board of Directors’ meeting, as a result of the absence of the connected Director, such transaction shall be submitted as a resolution at a shareholders’ general meeting of the Company.

The Directors is authorized to exercise the borrowing powers of the Company within the financial guidelines set forth in Article 171. Variation of the borrowing power of the Board may only be effected by amending the Articles of Association. With the approval of over two-thirds of all Directors, the Board of Directors may make decisions on the following matters:

 

 (1)Transactions related to the purchase or sale of assets, foreign investment (including entrusted financial management and entrusted loans), the provision of financial assistance, entrusted or trusted asset or business management, the formation of license agreements, or the transfer or acceptance of research and development projects that meet the following criteria:

1.the total assets involved in a single transaction is more than 5%, but less than 25% of the Company’s latest audited total asset value;

2.a single investment more than 5% and below 25% of the Company’s latest audited net asset value;

3.the subject of a single transaction accounts for more than 5% and less than 25% of the Company’s latest audited income generated from our principal operations for the latest financial year; or

4.the subject of a single transaction accounts for more than 5% and less than 25% of the Company’s latest audited net profit for the latest financial year.

The above transactions which involve public offer of securities that require the approval of the China Securities Regulatory Commission shall be subject to approval of the shareholders in a general meeting.

(2)a single loan of less than 10% of the Company’s latest audited net asset value andso long as the debt ratio to the Company’s assets remains under 60% after such financing; and

 

 (3)(2)mortgages or pledges of assets the cumulative outstanding amount of which is less than 30% of the Company’s latest audited net asset value;value.

(4)external guarantees not within the approval limit of the shareholders’ general meeting as provided in our Articles of Association; and

(5)transactions involving connected transactions, which have to be conducted in accordance with the relevant regulations of competent securities authorities and the listing rules of the stock exchanges.

The transactions referred to in (1)Remuneration of Directors are determined by resolution of the first paragraph involving the provision of financial assistance and entrusted financial management, shall be calculated on accrued basis for twelve consecutive months according to the transaction categories and applicable approval limit proportion of the Board of Directors. When the Company conducts other transactions apart from the provision of financial assistance and entrusted financial management, applicable approval limit proportion of the Board of Directors regarding each transaction which is under the same category shall be calculated on the principle of accrued basis for twelve consecutive months. Transactions already approved by the Company in accordance with the principle of accrued basis shall not be included in the scope of accrual calculation.

Provision of regulatory authorities the Company is subject to within and outside the PRC that is of a stricter standard than this Articleshareholders. The Articles of Association shall apply accordingly.do not impose a mandatory retirement age or share ownership qualification on Directors.

Description of the Shares and Shareholder Rights

As of December 31, 2007,2008, our share capital structure consists of 4,918,400,000 ordinary shares, comprising

 

 (1)2,960,000,000 domestic shares, which represent 60.18% of our share capital, of which:

 

 a.2,600,000,000 shares, which represent 52.86% of our share capital, were held by the promoter ,Yankuang Group Corporation Limited, and

 

 b.360,000,000 shares, which represent 7.32% of our share capital, were held by other shareholders; and

 

 (2)1,958,400,000 foreign H shares, which represent 39.82% of our share capital, were held by the H Shares shareholders.

Holders of our ordinary Shares are entitled to share in the Company’s profits, dividends and other distributions in proportion to the number of Shares held and are not liable for making any further contribution other than the subscription amount. Our ordinary shareholders shall enjoy the following rights:

 

 (i)the right to receive dividends and other distributions in proportion to the number of shares held;

 

 (ii)the right to demand for the convening of a shareholders’ meeting, convene a shareholders’ meeting, attend or appoint a proxy to attend shareholders’ meetings and to vote thereat;

 (iii)the right of supervisory management over our business operations and the right to present proposals or to raise queries;

 

 (iv)the right to transfer, grant or pledge shares so held in accordance with laws, administrative regulations and provisions of our Articles of Association;

 

 (v)the right to obtain relevant information in accordance with the provisions of our Articles of Association;

 

 (vi)in the event of our termination or liquidation , the right to participate in the distribution of our surplus assets in accordance with the number of shares held;

 

 (vii)for shareholders who disagree with the resolutions for the merger and separation of the Company made in a general meeting, they may demand the Company to purchase their shares; and

 

 (viii)other rights conferred by laws, administrative regulations and our Articles of Association.

A shareholderVoting Rights

Shareholder (including a proxy)proxies), when voting at a shareholders’ general meeting, may exercise such voting rights as are attached to the number of voting shares which he represents.they hold. Each share shall haverepresents one vote. Shares held by the Company do not have voting rights and these shares will not count as the total number of shares entitled to voting rights.vote. Resolutions ofat shareholders’ general meetings shall be divided into ordinary resolutions and special resolutions. An ordinary resolution must be passed by votes representing more than one-halfhalf of the voting rights represented by the shareholders (including proxies) present at the meeting. A special resolution must be passed by votes representing more than two-thirds of the voting rights represented by the shareholders (including proxies) present at the meeting. Our ordinary shareholders are entitled to dividends and other distributions in proportion to the numberArticles of shares held, and they are not liable for making any further contribution other than the subscription amount. Our ArticlesAssociations provide that a controlling shareholder (as defined in the Articles) shall not exercise its voting rights to approve certain matters which will be prejudicial to the interests of all or some of the other shareholders by exercising his/her voting rights.

The Listing Agreement between us and the Hong Kong Stock Exchange further provides that we may not permit amendments to certain sections of the Articles of Association subject to the Mandatory Provisions. These sections include provisions relating to (i) varying the rights of existing classes of shares; (ii) voting rights; (iii) the power of us to purchase our own shares; (iv) rights of minority shareholders; and (v) procedures upon liquidation. In addition, certain amendments to the Articles of Association require the approval and assent of relevant PRC authorities.shareholders.

Shareholders’ Meeting

Shareholders’ general meetings are divided into annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings. Shareholders’ general meetings shall be convened by the Board of Directors. Annual general meetings are held once every year and within six months from the end of the preceding financial year. The Board of Directors shall convene an extraordinary general meeting within two (2) months of the occurrence of any one of the following events:

(i)where the number of Directors is less than the number stipulated in the Company Law or two-thirds of the number specified in our Articles of Association;

(ii)where our unrecovered losses amount to one-third of the total amount of our share capital;

(iii)where shareholder(s) singly or jointly holding 10% or more of our issued and outstanding voting shares request(s) in writing for the convening of an extraordinary general meeting;

(iv)whenever the Board of Directors deems necessary or the supervisory committee so requests;

(v)other cases as provided in laws, administrative regulations and these Articles of Association; or

(vi)whenever more than a half of the independent Directors so request.

When we convene a shareholders’ general meeting, written notice of the meeting shall be given 45 days before the date of the meeting (when calculating the 45 day period, the date on which the meeting is held shall not be included) to notify all of the shareholders whose names appear in the share register of the matters to be considered and the date and place of the meeting, along with the matters to be resolved in the meeting. Shareholder who intend to attend the meeting shall deliver to us their written reply concerning their attendance at such meeting 20 days before the date of the meeting. When we convene an annual general meeting, a shareholder singly or shareholders jointly holding 5% or more of the voting shares of the Company may propose new motions in writing, and we shall include in the agenda those motions which are within the authority of the shareholders’ general meeting.

When we convene a shareholders’ general meeting, the Board of Directors, the supervisory committee and shareholder(s) individually and jointly holding more than 5% of our shares have the right to propose resolutions to the Company. Shareholder(s) individually and jointly holding more than 5% of our shares may propose special resolutions in writing to the convenor 20 days before the shareholders’ general meeting is convened. The convenor shall issue a supplementary notice of the general meeting within two days after receiving the resolutions to announce the contents of the resolutions. Apart from the above, no amendment to the resolutions as set out in the notice of general meeting or proposal of new resolutions shall be made after the convenor has issued the notice of general meeting. The resolutions not set out in the notice of general meeting or failing to comply with Article 79 of these Articles of Association shall be not voted and resolved in the shareholders’ general meeting.

Set forth below is certain information relating to the H Shares, including a brief summary of certain provisions of the Articles, and selected laws and regulations applicable to us.

Sources of Shareholders’ Rights.Rights

The rights and obligations of holders of H Shares and other provisions relating to shareholder protection are principally provided in the Articles of Association and the PRC Company Law. The Articles of Association incorporate mandatory provisions in accordance with the Mandatory Provisions for the Articles of Association of Companies Listed Overseas promulgated by the State Council Securities Commission and the State Restructuring Commission on August 27, 1994 (the “Mandatory Provisions”). We are further subject to management ordinances applicable to the listed companies in Hong Kong SAR and the United States, as our H Shares are listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and the New York Stock Exchange (in the form of ADSs).

In addition, for so long as the H Shares are listed on Thethe Hong Kong Stock Exchange, we are subject to the Rules Governing the Listing of Securities on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited (the “HKSE Rules”), the Securities and Futures Ordinance of Hong Kong (the “SFO”) and the Hong Kong Code on Takeovers and Mergers and Share Repurchases.

Unless otherwise specified, all rights, obligations The Listing Agreement between us and protections discussed below derived fromthe Hong Kong Stock Exchange further provides that we may not permit amendments to certain sections of the Articles of Association the PRC Company Law and abovementioned laws and regulations.

Significant Differences in the H Shares and A Shares.Holders of H Shares and Domestic Shares, with minor exceptions, are entitledsubject to the same economicMandatory Provisions. These sections include provisions relating to (i) varying the rights of existing classes of shares; (ii) voting rights; (iii) the power of us to purchase our own shares; (iv) rights of minority shareholders; and voting rights. However, the Articles of Association provide that holders of H Shares will receive dividends in HK dollars while holders of Domestic Shares will receive dividends in Renminbi.(v) procedures upon liquidation. In addition, the H Shares can only be traded by investors of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and any country other than the PRC, while A Shares may be traded only by PRC investors and qualified foreign institutional investors (“QFII”). The State Legal Person Shares are not transferable without the approval of the PRC Government.

Restrictions on Transferability and the Share Register.Pursuantcertain amendments to the Articles of Association we may refuse to register a transferrequire the approval and assent of H Shares unless (i) any relevant transfer fee and stamp duty is paid; (ii) the instrument of transfer is only in respect of H Shares; (iii) share certificates or such other evidence is given as may be reasonably necessary to show the right of the transferor to make the transfer; (iv) if it is intended that the shares be transferred to joint owners, the maximum number of joint owners shall not be more than four; and (v) we do not have any lien on the relevant shares.PRC authorities.

Merger and Acquisition

In the event of the merger or division of our Company, a plan shallmust be presented by our Board of Directors and shall be approved in accordance with the procedures stipulated in our Articles of Association. We shall then go throughShareholders who object to the relevant approval process. Shareholder who objects to the

plan of merger or division will have the right to demand us or the shareholders who consent to the plan of merger or division to acquire their’their shares at fair market price. A resolution proposing thea merger or division ofby our company shall constituteconstitutes a special document, which will be available for inspection by our shareholders.

Repurchase of SharesRedemption Provisions

We may, inIn accordance with the procedures set out in thesethe Articles of Association and with theupon obtaining approval of thefrom relevant governing authority of the State,government authorities, we may repurchase our issued Shares only under the following circumstances:

 

 (i)canceling Shares to reduce our capital;

 

 (ii)merger with another company that holds Shares of our Company;

 

 (iii)granting employee incentive Shares;

 

 (iv)purchasing the shares of dissenting shareholders; and

 

 (v)other circumstances permitted by relevant laws and administrative regulations.

We shall not repurchase issued Shares except under the circumstances stated above.

We may repurchase shares in one of the following ways, with the approval of the relevant governing authority of the State:government authorities:

 

 (i)by making a general offer to repurchase shares of all our shareholders on a pro rata basis;

 

 (ii)by repurchasing shares through a public dealing on a stock exchange;

 

 (iii)by repurchasing shares outside of the stock exchange by means of an off-market agreement; or

 

 (iv)by other means as authorized by the competent securities authorities under the State Council.

Interested Shareholders

Articles 140 and 141Variation of our Articles of Associations provide the following:

Article 140:Rights

The following circumstancesrights attached to any class of shares may not be varied or abrogated except with the approval of a special resolution of all shareholders in a general meeting, along with a resolution of more than two-thirds of the holders of the affected class of shares at a separate meeting in accordance with the Articles of Association.

Shareholders’ Meetings and Notices

Shareholders’ general meetings are divided into annual general meetings and extraordinary general meetings. Shareholders’ general meetings shall be deemed to be variations or abrogationconvened by the Board of Directors. Annual general meetings are held once every year and within six months from the end of the rights attaching to a particular classpreceding financial year. The Board of shares:Directors shall convene an extraordinary general meeting within two months of the occurrence of any one of the following events:

 

 (i)to increase or decreasewhere the number of shares of that class, or to increase or decreaseDirectors is less than the number stipulated in the Company Law or two-thirds of sharesthe number specified in our Articles of a class having voting or equity rights or privileges equal or superior to those of shares of that class;Association;

 

 (ii)where our unrecovered losses amount to exchange all or partone-third of the sharestotal amount of that class for shares of another class or to exchange or to create a right to exchange all or part of the shares of another class for shares of that class;our share capital;

 

 (iii)to removewhere shareholder(s) singly or reduce rights to accrued dividendsjointly holding 10% or rights to cumulative dividends attached tomore of our issued and outstanding voting shares request(s) in writing for the convening of that class;an extraordinary general meeting;

 

 (iv)to reducewhenever the Board of Directors deems necessary or remove preferential rights attached to shares of that class to receive dividends or to the distribution of assets in the event that we are liquidated;supervisory committee so requests;

 (v)to add, removeother cases as provided in laws, administrative regulations and the Articles of Association; or reduce conversion privileges, options, voting rights, transfer or pre-emptive rights, or rights to acquire our securities attached to shares of that class;

 

 (vi)to remove or reduce rights to receive payment payable by us in particular currencies attached to shareswhenever more than a half of that class;the independent Directors so request.

(vii)to create a new class of shares having voting or equity rights or privileges equal or superior to those of the shares of that class;

(viii)to restrict the transfer or ownership of shares of that class or to increase the types of restrictions attaching thereto;

(ix)to allot and issue rights to subscribe for, or to convert the existing shares into, shares in our company of that class or another class;

(x)to increase the rights or privileges of shares of another class;

(xi)to restructure our company in such a way so as to result in the disproportionate distribution of obligations between the various classes of shareholders;

(xii)to vary or abrogate the provisions of this Chapter.

Article 141:

ShareholdersWhen we convene a shareholders’ general meeting, written notice of the affected class, whethermeeting shall be given 45 days before the date of the meeting (when calculating the 45 day period, the date on which the meeting is held shall not be included) to notify all of the shareholders whose names appear in the share register of the matters to be considered and the date and place of the meeting, along with the matters to be resolved in the meeting. Shareholder who intend to attend the meeting shall deliver to us their written reply concerning their attendance at such meeting 20 days before the date of the meeting. When we convene an annual general meeting, a shareholder singly or not otherwise havingshareholders jointly holding 5% or more of the right to vote atvoting shares of the Company may propose new motions in writing, and we shall include in the agenda those motions which are within the authority of the shareholders’ general meetings,meeting.

When we convene a shareholders’ general meeting, the Board of Directors, the supervisory committee and shareholder(s) individually and jointly holding more than 5% of our shares have the right to vote at class meetingspropose resolutions to the Company. Shareholder(s) individually and jointly holding more than 5% of our shares may propose special resolutions in respectwriting to the convenor 20 days before the shareholders’ general meeting is convened. The convenor shall issue a supplementary notice of matters concerning sub-paragraphs (2)the general meeting within two days after receiving the resolutions to (8), (11)announce the contents of the resolutions. Apart from the above, no amendment to the resolutions as set out in the notice of general meeting or proposal of new resolutions shall be made after the convenor has issued the notice of general meeting. The resolutions not set out in the notice of general meeting or failing to comply with the Articles shall be not voted and (12)resolved in the shareholders’ general meeting.

Limitations on Voting and Shareholding

Holders of Article 140, but interested shareholder(s) shall not beH Shares and Domestic Shares, with minor exceptions, are entitled to vote at such class meetings.

(An) interested shareholder(s)”, as such term is used in the preceding paragraph, means:same economic and voting rights. Consistent with PRC law, the Articles of Association provide that the H Shares can only be traded by investors of Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau and any country other than the PRC, while A Shares may be traded only by PRC investors and qualified foreign institutional investors.

(i)in the case of a repurchase of shares by way of a general offer to all our shareholders or by way of public dealing on a stock exchange pursuant to Article 32, a “controlling shareholder” within the meaning of Article 61;

(ii)in the case of a repurchase of shares by an off-market agreement pursuant to Article 32, a holder of the shares to which the proposed agreement relates;

(iii)in the case of our restructuring, a shareholder who assumes a relatively lower proportion of obligations than the obligations imposed on shareholders of that class under the proposed restructuring or who has an interest in the proposed restructuring different from the general interests of the shareholders of that class.

Ownership Threshold

There are no ownership thresholds above which shareholder ownership is required to be disclosed.

Changes in Capital

Article 107 provides that any increase or reduction in share capital shall be resolved by a special resolution at a shareholders’ general meeting.

Changes in Registered Capital

The Company may reducechange its registered share capital. It shall do socapital in accordance with the Company Law, any other relevant regulatory provisions and thesethe Articles of Association.

Article 109 provides that any increase or reduction in share capital must be resolved by a special resolution at a shareholders general meeting.

C. Material ContractsRecent Amendments to the Articles of Association

During the reporting period of this annual report, we made a number of amendments to our Articles of Association.

Our shareholders approved an amendment to Article 158 on January 30, 2008 to authorize independent Directors to retain audit and consulting services with a majority vote, as opposed to the unanimous approval of independent Directors that was necessary before the amendment.

To improve corporate governance and ensure compliance with the relevant PRC laws and regulations, the Board recommended, and our shareholders approved on December 23, 2008, certain amendments to the Articles of Association. Articles 63, 64, 218 and 219 were adopted to increase our financial independence from the Controlling Shareholder by prohibiting the misappropriation of funds and assets by the Controlling Shareholder and charging Directors, supervisors and senior management with the responsibility to safeguard the Company’s funds accordingly. The newly adopted Articles 66 and 171 require shareholder approval and disclosure of external guarantees. Articles 166 and 202 provide for, but do not require, the establishment of certain Board committees and set forth composition requirements for those committees.

In addition to the above amendments, our Board of Directors proposed certain amendments to our Articles of Association, which are subject to a vote of our shareholders at the 2009 annual general meeting of the Company on June 26, 2009 as well as approval by the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation. If approved, these proposed amendments will affect our business registration number, procedures for notifying creditors, cash dividend policy and use of electronic means to communicate with H Shareholders, but they have not taken effect as of the date of this annual report.

C.Material Contracts

ApprovalRenewal of Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements and their Annual Caps for 2006, 2007 and 2008

As required by the rules of the Hong Kong Stock Exchange and Shanghai Stock Exchange on continuing connected transactions, we completed the necessary review and approval procedures for our continuing connected

transactions and entered into sixfive New Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements in the firstfourth quarter of 2006.2008. We also determined the annual caps for each of the Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements for 2006, 20072009, 2010 and 2008.2011.

In accordance with applicable listing rules,Each of the New Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements are with the Controlling Shareholder. We amended and renewed the annual caps were approved by the Board at a meeting held on January 6, 2006, and the shareholders meeting held on March 24, 2006. The term for eachProvision of the Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements is from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008. The MaterialsLabour and Services Supply Agreement, and its supplementary agreement and the AgreementProvision of Endowment Insurance Fund originally entered into between usAdministrative Services Agreement, and Provision of Material Supply Agreement and continue to receive services and products from the Controlling Shareholder pursuant to these agreements We also renewed our obligation to provide services and products to the Controlling Shareholder under the Provision of Coal Products and Materials Agreement. Pursuant to the amended Provision of Electricity and Heat Agreement, we provided power to Yankuang Group now that we have been terminated.acquired Hua Ju Energy from Yankuang Group. The New Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements are filed with this Annual Reportannual report as Exhibit 4.1.

Joint Venture Acquisition of 74% Equity Interest in Shandong Hua Ju Energy Co., Ltd.

On October 24, 2008, the Company and the Yankuang Group entered into an equity transfer agreement, pursuant to which, the Company agreed to purchase the 74% equity interest held by the Controlling Shareholder in Hua Ju Energy for RMB593.2 million. The consideration for the transfer was a result of arm’s length negotiations based on a valuation report prepared by an independent valuer. The acquisition was recommended by the Board and approved by shareholders in an extraordinary general meeting on December 23, 2008. The transfer was completed on February 18, 2009.

Hua Ju Energy is a joint stock limited company established in the PRC, which engages in the business of supplying electric power and heat by utilizing coal gangue and coal slurry produced during the coal mining process. It owns and operates six power plants, each of which is located near one of our coal mines. The equity transfer agreement is filed with this annual report as Exhibit 4.2.

Approval of Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements

We entered into six continuing connected transaction agreements in 2006 and set annual transaction caps for each of the agreements for 2006, 2007 and 2008. Each of the continuing connected transaction agreements that was formed in 2006 expired at the end of 2008. The continuing connected transaction agreements entered into in 2006, and amendments thereof, are filed with this annual report as Exhibit 4.3.

Agreement to Establish Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited

On August 23, 2007, the Company entered into a joint venturean investment agreement to establish Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited. This joint ventureassociate company was established by the Company together with Huadian International and Zoucheng Municipal Assets Operation Company on November 21, 2007. The registered capital of Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited is RMB3,000 million, of which the Company contributed RMB900 million, representing approximately 30% of the registered capital. The basis of the parties to form the joint investment agreement was that we will supply coal to Zouxian Power Plant, a power plant wholly owned by Huadian International and our largest end-user as of December 31, 2007, on a long-term basis. The coal provided by our Company will be at favorable prices and quantities and meet agreed upon quality standards.

The business scope of the joint ventureassociate company includes the development, investment, construction and operation of projects relating to electricityelectric power and other energy. The joint ventureThis company will be principally engaged in the construction, operation and management of two coal-fired generating units,power plants, each with capacity of 1,000 MW, during the Phase IV capacity expansion project of Zouxian Power Plant. The investment agreement areis filed with this Annual Reportannual report as Exhibit 4.2.4.4.

D. Exchange Controls

D.Exchange Controls

Our Articles of Association require that we pay dividends and other amountdistributions to holders of Foreign-Invested Shares in accordance with the relevant foreign exchange control regulations. If there is no applicable regulation, the applicable exchange rate that we use to convert dividends and distributions to foreign currencies shall be the average exchange reference rate of Renminbi to the relevant foreign currency announced by the Bank of China five business days prior to the announcement of the payment of dividends and other amounts.dividend or distribution.

The Renminbi currently is not generally a freely convertible currency. The PRC State Administration of Foreign Exchange (“SAFE”), under the authority of the People’s Bank of China, controls the conversion of Renminbi into foreign currency. In general, underUnder existing foreign exchange regulations, unless otherwise approved by the State Administration of Foreign ExchangeSAFE or exempted by relevant regulations, PRC enterprises must price and sell their goods and services in the PRC in Renminbi.

The mandatory settlement system has been abolished by the latest amendment to the Control of Foreign Exchange Regulations. All foreign exchange income generated from current account transactions of PRC enterprises (including foreign-invested enterprises) may be retained by enterprises themselves or be sold to the financial institutions operating the foreign exchange settlement or sale business in accordance with relevant regulations. Foreign exchange income from loans issued by organizations outside the territory or from the issuance of bonds and shares (for example foreign exchange income received by our Company from the sale of shares overseas) is also not required to be sold to financial institutions operating the foreign exchange settlement or sale business, but may be deposited in foreign exchange accounts at the financial institutions operating foreign exchange businesses.

PRC enterprises (including foreign-invested enterprises) which require foreign exchange for transactions relating to current account items may, without the approval of SAFE, effect payment from their foreign exchange accounts at financial institutions operating foreign exchange businesses, with valid receipts and proof. Upon a board approval, foreign-invested and PRC enterprises that need foreign currency to distribute profits to their shareholders ,such as our Company, may make distributions from their foreign exchange accounts or convert RMB into foreign currencies at foreign exchange businesses.

The conversion of foreign exchange in respect of capital account items, like direct investment and capital contribution, is subject to registration formalities at the foreign exchange administrative department of the State Council.

We have established a limited independent foreign currency account since 2001. The primary source of our foreign currency is revenues denominated in U.S. dollars from coal sales. OurWe use foreign currency is mainly used for the settlement ofprimarily to settle equipment and machinery purchases and payment ofpay cash dividends in connection withon our H Shares (in HK dollars). We have not experienced any shortage of foreign currency. In addition, we can exchange Renminbi for additional foreign currency from designated banks for current account transactions by presenting relevant documents to evidence foreign currency requirements in accordance with relevant regulations. We do not intend to hedge exchange rate fluctuations between Renminbi and HK dollars.

Existing foreign exchange regulations have significantly reduced government foreign exchange controls for transactions under the current account, including trade and service related foreign exchange

transactions and payment of dividends. We may undertake current account foreign exchange transactions without prior approval from the State Administration of Foreign Exchange by producing commercial documents evidencing such transactions, provided that they are processed through Chinese banks licensed to engage in foreign exchange transactions. The PRC Government has stated publicly that it intends to make the Renminbi freely convertible in the future. However, we cannot predict whether the PRC Government will continue its existing foreign exchange policy and when the PRC Government will allow free conversion of Renminbi to foreign currency.

Foreign exchange transactions under the capital account, including principal payments in respect of foreign currency-denominated obligations, are subject to significant foreign exchange controls and require the approval of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange. These limitations could affect our ability to obtain foreign exchange through debt or equity financing, or to obtain foreign exchange for capital expenditures.

E. Taxation

E.Taxation

The following summary of certain tax summaryprovision does not address all of the tax considerations that may be relevant to each investor and is based on the tax laws, notices and treaties of the relevant jurisdictions as of the date of this Annual Report,annual report, all of which are subject to amendments or changes in interpretation, possibly with retroactive effect. PotentialThis discussion does not deal with all possible tax consequences relating to an investment in the H Shares or ADSs. In particular, the tax consequences under state, local and other laws are not discussed. This discussion does not constitute legal or tax advice. Accordingly, potential investors are strongly urged to consult their own tax advisoradviser to determine the particular national, federal, state, local, treaty and foreign tax consequences of their investment.

The People’s Republic of China

The following discussion summarizes the material PRC tax provisions relating to the ownership and disposition of H Shares or ADSs held by investors as capital assets.

Taxation on Dividends

Individual Investors.Investors. Under the Provisional Regulations of China Concerning Questions of Taxation on Enterprises Experimenting with the Share System (the “Provisional Regulations”), the Individual Income Tax Law of the PRC of 1980, as last amended on December 29, 2007 and other applicable tax laws and regulations, dividends paid by Chinese companies to individuals are generally subject to a PRC withholding tax of 20%. However, on July 21, 1993, the PRC State Administration of Taxation issued the Notice Concerning the Taxation of Gains on Transfer and Dividends from Shares (Equities) Received by Foreign Investment Enterprises, Foreign Enterprises and Foreign Individuals (the “Tax Notice”). Under the Tax Notice, dividends paid by a Chinese company to foreign persons with respect to shares listed on an overseas stock exchange (“Overseas Shares”), including the H Shares and ADSs, are exempt from PRC withholding taxes so long as the Tax Notice is in effect. In a letter dated July 26, 1994 to the former State Commission for Restructuring the Economic System, the former State Council Securities Committee and the CSRC, the PRC State Administration of Taxation reiterated the exemption. To date, the relevant tax authorities have not collected withholding tax from dividend payments on such shares exempted under the Tax Notice. However, if the Tax Notice is withdrawn, a 20% tax may be withheld on dividends paid to non-PRC individual holders of H Shares or ADSs, subject to reduction by an applicable tax treaty between China and the country where such holders reside.

Enterprises.Enterprises. According to the Enterprise Income Tax Law of the People’s Republic of China effective as of January 1, 2008, and the relevant regulations in the Implementing Regulations for the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Enterprise Income Tax (collectively, the “EIT Law”), dividends paid by Chinese companies to enterprises, which have no establishment or residence in China or whose dividends from China do not relate to their establishment or residence in China, are generally subject to a Chinese withholding tax levied at a rate and the Notice of 10%. According to the Tax Notice, foreign enterprises with no permanent establishment in China receiving dividends paid with respect to a Chinese company’s Overseas Shares would not be subject to the 10% withholding tax. The Ministry of Finance and the State Administration of Taxation promulgatedon the Notice of Several Preferential Policies in Respect ofIssues Concerning Withholding the Enterprise Income Tax (the “Preferential Notice”) on February 22, 2008. Accordingthe Dividends Paid by Chinese Resident Enterprises to H Share Holders Which are Overseas Non-resident Enterprises ,which was promulgated on November 6, 2008, where a Chinese resident enterprise pays dividends for the Preferential Notice, withyear of 2008 or any year thereafter to its H share holders that are overseas non-resident enterprises, it shall withhold the exception of the preferential policies included in the notice, all other preferential policies with respect to enterprise income tax will no longer be effective beginning January 1, 2008. The preferential policy as provided for inthereon at the Tax Notice was not included inuniform rate of 10%. After receiving dividends, a non-resident enterprise shareholder may submit an application to the Preferential Notice.competent tax authority to claim any treatment under a relevant tax agreement (arrangement).

Tax Treaties

Non-PRC shareholders who are residents or citizens of countries that have entered into treaties to avoid double-taxation with China may be entitled to a reduction in the withholding tax imposed on the payment of dividends. China currently has such treaties with a number of countries, including:

 

the United States;

 

Australia;

 

Canada;

 

France;

 

Germany;

 

Japan;

 

Malaysia;

 

the Netherlands;

 

Singapore; and

 

the United Kingdom.

Under each one of these treaties, the withholding tax imposed by China’s tax authorities is generally reduced. For example, under the treaty between China and the United States, China may tax dividends paid by us to an eligible U.S. holder up to a maximum of 10% of the gross amount of the dividend. For the purposes of this discussion, an eligible U.S. holder is a person who, by reason of domicile, residence, place or head office, place of incorporation or any other criterion of similar nature is subject to taxation in the United States.

Taxation on Capital Gains

According to the EIT Law, capital gains realized by foreign enterprises which have no establishment or residence in China or whose capital gains from China do not relate to their establishment or residence in China are generally subject to capital gains tax at the rate of 10%. According to the Tax Notice, gains realized by enterprises that are holder of Overseas Shares would, temporarily, not be subject to capital gains taxes. However, such tax exemption policy provided for in the Tax Notice was not included in the Preferential Notice.

According to the Interim Measures for Administration of Withholding at Source of Income Tax of Non-resident Enterprise, which was promulgated by the State Administration of Taxation on January 9, 2009, when two non-resident enterprises enter into an equity assignment transaction to transfer the equity of a Chinese enterprise outside the territory of China, the assigning non-resident enterprise shall pay tax with the competent tax authority in the place where the Chinese enterprise whose equity has been transferred is located. In addition, the Chinese enterprise whose equity is being assigned shall assist the tax authority in the collection of tax for the transaction.

With respect to individual holders of H Shares, the Provisions for Implementing the Individual Income Tax Law of China, as amended, provides that the levy individual income tax on the gains realized on the sale of shares will regulated in separate rules to be drafted by the Ministry of Finance. On June 20, 1994, February 9, 1996 and March 30, 1998, the Ministry of Finance and the State

Administration of Taxation issued notices providing that gains realized by individuals were temporarily exempted from individual income tax. In addition, according to the Tax Notice, individual holders of Overseas Shares are temporarily not subject to capital gains tax. If such exemption does not apply or is not renewed, and the Tax Notice is found not to apply, a non-PRC enterprise shareholder might be subject to a 20% tax on capital gains, unless reduced by an applicable double taxation treaty.

Additional China Tax Considerations

Under the Provisional Regulations of the PRC Concerning the Stamp Duty, Chinese stamp duty is not imposed on the transfer of shares, such as the H Shares or ADSs, of Chinese publicly traded companies by non-Chinese investors that take place outside of China.

The United States Federal Income Taxation

You shouldEach potential investor is strongly urged to consult yourhis or her own tax advisor regardingto determine the particular United States federal, state, local, treaty and local and otherforeign tax consequences of acquiring, owning andor disposing of the H sharesShares or ADSs in your particular circumstances.

ADSs.

United States Federal Income Taxation

This section describes theThe following is a general discussion of material United States federal income tax consequences of purchasing, owning and disposing of the ownership and disposition of H sharesShares or ADSs. This section applies to you onlyADSs if you are a U.S. holder, as defined below, and you hold yourthe H sharesShares or ADSs as capital assets for United States federal income tax purposes.within the meaning of Section 1221 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended (the “Code”). This sectiondiscussion does not address all of the tax consequences relating to the purchase, ownership and disposition of the H sharesShares or ADSs, and does not apply to you if you are a member of a special class oftake into account U.S. holders who may be subject to special rules including:

 

a dealer in securities;tax-exempt entities;

 

a trader in securities that elects to use a mark-to-market method of accounting for your securities holdings;

a partnershippartnerships or other entityentities treated as a partnershippartnerships for U.S.United States federal income tax purposes;

 

a tax-exempt organization;banks, financial institutions, and insurance companies;

 

a bank, financial institution, or insurance company;real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies and grantor trusts;

 

a real estate investment trust, a regulated investment company,dealers or a grantor trust;traders in securities, commodities or currencies;

 

a personU.S. holders liable for alternative minimum tax;

 

a personU.S. holders that own, actually or constructively, owns 10% or more of our voting stock;

 

a personpersons who receivesreceive the H sharesShares or ADSs as compensation for services;

 

certain U.S. expatriates;

a personholders that holdshold the H sharesShares or ADSs as part of a straddle or a hedging or conversion transaction;

certain U.S. expatriates; or

 

a personU.S. holders whose functional currency is not the U.S. dollar.

Moreover, this description does not address United States federal estate, and gift or alternative minimum taxes or any state or local tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of the H sharesShares or ADSs.

This sectiondiscussion is based on the Internal Revenue Code, of 1986, as amended, its legislative history, existingfinal, temporary and proposed United States Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder, published rulings and court decisions as in effect on the date hereof, all as currently in effect. These lawsof which are subject to change, or changes in interpretation, possibly on awith retroactive basis.effect. In addition, this sectiondiscussion is based in part upon the representations of the Depositarydepositary and the assumption that each obligation in the Deposit Agreementdeposit agreement and any related agreementagreements will be performed in accordance withaccording to its terms.

You are a U.S. holder“U.S. holder” if you are a beneficial owner of H sharesShares or ADSs and you are:

 

an individual citizen or resident of the United States;States for United States federal income tax purposes;

 

a corporation, or other entity treated as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes, created or organized under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof;

 

an estate whosethe income of which is subject to United States federal income tax regardless ofwithout regard to its source; or

 

a trusttrust:

 

subject to the primary supervision of a United States court and the control of one or more United States persons; or

 

that has elected to be treated as a United States person under applicable United States Treasury regulations.

If a partnership (including any entity treated as a partnership for United States federal tax purposes) is a beneficial owner of the H sharesShares or ADSs, the treatment of the partner in such partnership will generally depend upon the status of the partner and the activities of the partnership. If an investor is a partner in a partnership that holds H sharesShares or ADSs, such investor should consult its tax advisor.

In general, and taking into account We urge you to consult your tax advisors regarding the earlier assumptions, for United States federal, incomestate, local and non-United States tax purposes,consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the H Shares or ADSs.

In general, if you hold ADRs evidencing ADSs, you will be treated as the owner of the H sharesShares represented by those ADRs.the ADSs. Exchanges of H shares for ADRs, and ADRs for H shares, generally will not be subject to United States federal income tax.

INVESTORS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS AS TO THE PARTICULAR TAX CONSIDERATIONS APPLICABLE TO THEM RELATING TO THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE H SHARES OR ADSs, INCLUDING THE APPLICABILITY OF U.S. FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAX LAWS OR NON-U.S. TAX LAWS, ANY CHANGES IN APPLICABLE TAX LAWS AND ANY PENDING OR PROPOSED LEGISLATION OR REGULATIONS.

Taxation of DividendsDistributions on the H Shares or ADSs

Subject to the discussions below under “- PFIC Rules,”“ — Passive Foreign Investment Company”, the gross amount of any distribution (without reduction for any ChinesePRC tax withheld) we make on the H sharesShares or ADSs out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes) will be includible in your gross income as ordinary dividend income when the distribution is actually or constructively received by you, or by the depositary in the case of ADSs. Distributions that exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits will be treated as a return of capital to you to the extent of your basis in the H sharesShares or ADSs and thereafter as capital gain. We, however, may not calculate earnings and profits in accordance with U.S. tax principles. In this case, all distributions by us to U.S. Holders will generally be treated as dividends. Any dividend will not be eligible for the dividends-received deduction generally allowed to United States corporations in respect of dividends received from United States corporations. The amount of any distribution of property other than cash will be the fair market value of such property on the date of such distribution.

Subject to certain exceptions for short-term and hedged positions, the U.S. dollar amount of dividends received by an individual, trust or estate in a taxable year prior to January 1, 2011 with respect to the H sharesShares or ADSs will be subject to taxation at a maximum rate of 15% if the dividends are “qualified dividends.” Dividends paid on H sharesShares or ADSs will be treated as qualified dividends if either (i) we are eligible for the benefits of a comprehensive income tax treaty with the United States that the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, has approved for the purposes of the qualified dividend rules, or (ii) the dividends are with respect to ADSs readily tradable on a U.S. securities market, provided that we were not, in the year prior to the year in which the dividend was paid, and are not, in the year in which the dividend is paid, a passive foreign investment company, (a “PFIC”).or PFIC. The Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the People’sPeople's Republic of China for the Avoidance of Double

Taxation and the Prevention of Tax Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income PFIC rules (the “Treaty”) has been approved for the purposes of the qualified dividend rules, and we expect to qualify for benefits under the Treaty. We are considered a qualified foreign corporation with respect to the ADSs because our ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange. Finally, based on our audited financial statements and relevant market data, we believe that we did not satisfy the definition for PFIC status for U.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to our 20072008 taxable year. In addition, based on our audited financial statements and our current expectations regarding the value and nature of our assets, the sources and nature of our income, and relevant market data, we do not anticipate becoming a PFIC infor our 20082009 taxable year or any future year. However, our PFIC status in the current year and future years will depend on the composition of our income and assets (which for this purpose depends in part on the market value of the H sharesShares or ADSs) in those years. See the discussion of the PFIC rules below.below under “ — Passive Foreign Investment Company”.

The U.S. Treasury has announced its intention to promulgate rules pursuant to which holders of common stock and intermediaries through whom such stock is held will be permitted to rely on certifications from issuers to establish that dividends are treated as qualified dividends. Because such procedures have not yet been issued, it is not clear whether we will be able to comply with them. Holders of H sharesShares or ADSs should consult their own tax advisers regarding the availability of the reduced dividend tax rate in light of their own particular circumstances.

If we make a distribution paid in Hong KongHK dollars, (or other foreign currency), you will be considered to receive the U.S. dollar value of the distribution determined at the spot Hong Kong dollar (or such other foreign currency)/HK dollar/U.S. dollar rate on the date such distribution is received by you or by

the depositary, regardless of whether you or the depositary convert the distribution into U.S. dollars. Any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date the dividend payment is includible in your income to the date you or the depositary convert the distribution into U.S. dollars will be treated as ordinary income or loss from U.S. sources.

Subject to various limitations, any ChinesePRC tax withheld from distributions in accordance with the Treaty will be deductible or creditable against your United States federal income tax liability. Dividends paid by us generally will constitute income from sources outside the United States for U.S. foreign tax credit limitation purposes and will be categorized as “passive income” or, in the case of certain U.S. Holders as “general category income” for U.S. foreign tax credit purposes.

In the event we are required to withhold PRC income tax on dividends paid to U.S. Holders on the H Shares or ADSs (see discussion under “Taxation — “Taxation—China”), you may be able to claim a reduced 10% rate of PRC withholding tax if you are eligible for the benefits under the Treaty. You should consult your own tax advisor about the eligibility for reduction of PRC withholding tax.

You may not be able to claim a foreign tax credit (and instead may claim a deduction) for non-United States taxes imposed on dividends paid on the H Shares or ADSs if you (i) have held the H sharesShares or ADSs for less than a specified minimum period during which you are not protected from risk of loss with respect to such shares, or (ii) are obligated to make payments related to the dividends (for example, pursuant to a short sale) or (iii) hold the H shares or ADSs in an arrangement in which your expected economic return, after non-United States taxes, is insubstantial.. The rules relating to the U.S. foreign tax credit are complex. YouU.S. Holders should consult yourtheir own tax advisors regarding the effect of these rules in yourtheir particular circumstances.circumstance.

Taxation of Capital GainsSale, Exchange or Other Disposition

Subject to the discussions below under “- PFIC Rules,”“ — Passive Foreign Investment Company”, upon a sale, exchange or other disposition of the H sharesShares or ADSs, you will generally recognize capital gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes in an amount equal to the difference between the U.S. dollar value of the amount realized and your tax basis, determined in U.S. dollars, in such H sharesShares or ADSs. The rules relating to the U.S. foreign tax credit are complex. U.S. Holders should consult their own tax advisors regarding the effect of these rules in their particular circumstance. Any gain or loss will generally be United States source gain or loss for foreign tax credit limitation purposes and as a result of the U.S. foreign tax credit limitation, foreign taxes, if any, imposed upon capital gains in respect of H sharesShares or ADSs may not be currently creditable. CapitalUnder that Treaty, if any PRC tax was to be imposed on any gain from the disposition of certain non-corporateH Shares or ADSs, the gain may be treated as PRC-source income. U.S. holders,Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the tax consequences if a foreign withholding tax is imposed on a disposition of H Shares or ADSs, including individuals, is generally taxed at a maximum ratethe availability of 15 percent where the property has been held more than one year. Your ability to deduct capital losses is subject to significant limitations.foreign tax credit under their particular circumstances.

If you are paid in a currency other than U.S. dollars, any gain or loss resulting from currency exchange fluctuations during the period from the date of the payment resulting from sale, exchange or other disposition is made to the date you convert the payment into U.S. dollars will be treated as United States source ordinary income or loss.

PFIC RulesPassive Foreign Investment Company

In general, a foreign corporation is a PFIC for any taxable year in which, after applying relevant look-through rules with respect to the income and assets of subsidiaries:

 

75% or more of its gross income consists of passive income, such as dividends, interest, rents, royalties, and gains from the sale of assets that give rise to such income; or

 

50% or more of the average quarterly value of its assets consists of assets that produce, or are held for the production of, passive income.

We believe thatPassive income does not include rents and royalties derived from the active conduct of a trade or business. If we own at least 25% (by value) of the stock of another corporation, we will not meet eitherbe treated, for purposes of the PFIC tests, inas owning our proportionate share of the other corporation’s assets and receiving our proportionate share of the other corporation’s income.

Based on the composition of our assets and income and the current or subsequent taxable yearsexpectations regarding the price of the H Shares and therefore willADSs, we believe that we should not be treated as a PFIC for such periods. However, because theU.S. federal income tax purposes with respect to our 2009 taxable year and we do not intend or anticipate becoming a PFIC for any future taxable year. The determination of the PFIC status is a factual determination that must be made annually at the close of each taxable year and therefore, there can be no assurance that we will notcertainty as to our status in this regard until the close of the 2009 taxable year. Changes in the nature of our income or assets or a decrease in the trading price of the H Shares or ADSs may cause us to be considered a PFIC in the current or any subsequent taxable years.year.

If we were a PFIC in any taxable year that you held the H sharesShares or ADSs, you generally would

be subject to special rulesrule” with respect to “excess distributions” made by us on the H sharesShares or ADSs and with respect to gain from your disposition of the H sharesShares or ADSs. An “excess distribution” generally is defined as the excess of the distributions you receive with respect to the H sharesShares or ADSs in any taxable year over 125% of the average annual distributions you have received from us during the shorter of the three preceding years, or your holding period for the H sharesShares or ADSs. Generally, you would be required to allocate any excess distribution or gain from the disposition of the H sharesShares or ADSs rateablyratably over your holding period for the H sharesShares or ADSs. The portion of the excess distribution or gain allocated to a prior taxable year, other than a year prior to the first year in which we became a PFIC, would be taxed at the highest United States federal income tax rate on ordinary income in effect for such taxable year, and you would be subject to an interest charge on the resulting tax liability, determined as if the tax liability had been due with respect to such particular taxable years. The portion of the excess distribution or gain that is not allocated to prior taxable years, together with the portion allocated to the years prior to the first year in which we became a PFIC, would be included in your gross income for the taxable year of the excess distribution or disposition and taxed as ordinary income.

The foregoing rules with respect to excess distributions and dispositionsThese adverse tax consequences may be avoided if the U.S. Holder is eligible to and does elect to annually mark-to-market the H Shares or reduced if you are eligible for and timely makeADSs. If a valid “mark-to-market” election. If your H shares or ADSs were treated as shares regularly traded onU.S. Holder makes a “qualified exchange” for United States federal income tax purposes and a valid mark-to-market election, was made, in calculating your taxable income for each taxable year yousuch holder will generally would be required to take into accountinclude as ordinary income or loss the difference,excess, if any, betweenof the fair market value andof the adjusted tax basis of your H sharesShares or ADSs at the end of youreach taxable year. However,year over their adjusted basis, and will be permitted an ordinary loss in respect of the amountexcess, if any, of loss you would be allowed is limitedthe adjusted basis of the H Shares or ADSs over their fair market value at the end of the taxable year (but only to the extent of the net amount of previously included in income as a result of the mark-to-market election.election). Any gain recognized on the sale or other disposition of the H Shares or ADSs will be treated as ordinary income. The mark-to-market election is available only for “marketable stock,” which is stock that is traded in other than de minimis quantities on at least 15 days during each calendar quarter on a qualified exchange or other market, as defined in the applicable Treasury regulations. The H Shares or ADSs may qualify as “marketable stock” because the ADSs are listed on the New York Stock ExchangeExchange.

A U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in which the H Shares or ADSs will be increased by the amount of any income inclusion and decreased by the amount of any deductions under the mark-to-market rules. If a U.S. Holder makes a mark-to-market election it will be effective for the taxable year for which the election is made and all subsequent taxable years unless the H Shares or ADSs are no longer regularly traded ison a qualified exchange for United States federal incomeor the IRS consents to the revocation of the election. U.S. Holders are urged to

consult their tax purposes.advisors about the availability of the mark-to-market election, and whether making the election would be advisable in their particular circumstances.

Alternatively, a timely election to treat us as a qualified electing fund under Section 1295 of the Code could be made to avoid the foregoing rules with respect to excess distributions and dispositions. You should be aware, however, that if we become a PFIC, we do not intend to satisfy record keeping requirements that would permit you to make a qualified electing fund election.

If you own the H sharesShares or ADSs during any year that we are a PFIC, you must file IRS Form 8621. The reduced tax rate for dividend income, as discussed above under “ — Distributions on the H Shares or ADSs,” is not applicable to a dividend paid by us if we are a PFIC for either our taxable year in which the dividend is paid or the preceding year. We encourage you to consult your own tax advisor concerning the United States federal income tax consequences of holding the H sharesShares or ADSs that would arise if we were considered a PFIC.

Backup Withholding and Information Reporting

In general, information reporting requirements will apply to dividends in respect of the H sharesShares or ADSs or the proceeds of the sale, exchange, or redemption of the H sharesShares or ADSs paid within the United States, and in some cases, outside of the United States, other than to various exempt recipients, including corporations. In addition, you may, under some circumstances, be subject to “backup withholding” with respect to dividends paid on the H sharesShares or ADSs or the proceeds of any sale, exchange or transfer of the H sharesShares or ADSs, unless you

 

are a corporation or fall within various other exempt categories, and, when required, demonstrate this fact; or

 

provide a correct taxpayer identification number on a properly completed IRS Form W-9 or a substitute form, certify that you are exempt from backup withholding and otherwise comply with applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules.

Any amount withheld under the backup withholding rules generally will be creditable against your United States federal income tax liability provided that you furnish the required information to the IRS in a timely manner. If you do not provide a correct taxpayer identification number you may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS.

Hong Kong

The following discussion summarizes the material Hong Kong tax provisions relating to the ownership of H shares or ADSs purchased in connection with the global offering and held by investors as capital assets.you.

Dividends

Under current Hong Kong Inland Revenue Department practice, no Hong Kong tax will be imposed on our Shareholderis payable by the recipient in respect of dividends paid by us.

Taxation of Capital Gains

No Hong Kong tax is imposed on capital gains arising from the sale of property (such as H shares) acquired and held as investment assets. However, Hong Kong profits tax will be imposed if a person carries on a trade, profession or business in Hong Kong (e.g., trading and dealing in securities) and derives trading gains from that trade, profession or business in or from Hong Kong.Kong, Hong Kong profits tax will be payable. Gains from sales of H shares effected on or off the Hong Kong Stock Exchange are considered to derive from or arise in Hong Kong under these circumstances.for this purpose. Hong Kong profits tax is currently charged at the rate of 16.5% for corporations and at the rate of 15% for individuals.

No Hong Kong tax liability will be imposedarise on capital or trading gains arising from the sale of ADSs where the purchase and sale is effected outside Hong Kong, for instance,e.g. on the New York Stock Exchange.NYSE.

Hong Kong Stamp Duty

Hong Kong stamp duty will beis payable by each of the seller and the purchaser for every sold note and every bought note created for every sale and purchase respectively, of the H shares. Hong Kong stampStamp duty is charged at the total rate of 0.2% of the value of the H shares transferred (the buyer and seller each paying 0.1%half of such stamp duty). In addition, a fixed duty of HK$5 is currently payable on an instrument of transfer of H shares. If one of the parties to a sale is a non-resident of Hong Kong and does not pay the required stamp duty, the unpaid stamp duty not paid will be assessed on the instrument of transfer (if any), and the transferee will be liable for payment of the unpaidsuch stamp duty.

Hong Kong stamp duty at the rate described above for sale and purchase transactions will apply ifIf the withdrawal of H shares when ADSs are surrendered or the issuance of ADSs when H shares are deposited results in a change of beneficial ownership in the H shares under Hong Kong law, .Hong Kong stamp duty at the rate described above for sale and purchase transaction will apply. The issuance of ADSs for deposited H shares issued directly to the depositary or for the account of the depositary should not lead to a Hong Kong stamp duty liability. YouHolders of the ADSs are not liable for the Hong Kong stamp duty on transfers of ADSs outside of Hong Kong so long as it doesthe transfers do not result in a change of beneficial interest in the H shares under Hong Kong law.

Hong Kong Estate Duty

Hong Kong’sKong estate duty was abolished with effectrespect to persons passing away on or after February 11, 2006.

F. Dividends and Paying Agents

F.Dividends and Paying Agents

Not applicable.

G. Statement by Experts

G.Statement by Experts

Not applicable.

H. Documents on Display

H.Documents on Display

In accordance with the Exchange Act, we are obligated to file reports, including this Annual Report,annual report, and other information with the Commission. The reports and other information we have filed under the Exchange Act and the Registration Statementregistration statement on Form F-1 and exhibits thereto we have previously filed with the Commission may be inspected and copied by the public at the public reference facilities

maintained by the Commission at 100 F Street NE, Washington D.C. 20549, U.S.A. and will also be available for inspection and copying at the regional offices of the Commission located at Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048, U.S.A. and at Northwest Atrium Center, 500 Madison Street (Suite 1400), Chicago, Illinois 60661, U.S.A. Copies of such material may also be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 100 F Street NE, Washington D.C. 20549, U.S.A. at prescribed rates. Our annual reports and other information filed with the Commission are also available at the Commission’s website at www.sec.gov. Such reports and other information may also be inspected at the office of the New York Stock Exchange, 11 Wall Street, New York, New York 10005, U.S.A.

I. Subsidiaries

I.Subsidiaries

As of May 31, 2008,2009, we ownowned the following subsidiaries:

 

Name of Subsidiary

  Country of
incorporation/

registration
and operation
  Issued and fully
paid capital/
registered capital
  Proportion of registered
capital/issued share

capital held by the
Company
 Proportion
of voting
power

held
 

Principal activities

  Country of
incorporation

/registration
and operation
  Issued and fully
paid capital/
registered capital
  Proportion of registered
capital/issued share capital
held by the Company
 Proportion
of voting
power held
 

Principal activities

        Directly Indirectly         Directly Indirectly 

Heze Nenghua

  PRC  RMB600,000,000  96.67% —    96.67% 

Coal mining business

  PRC  RMB600,000,000  96.67 —     96.67 Coal mining business

Yancoal Australia

  Australia  AUD64,000,000  100% —    100% Investment holding  Australia  AUD64,000,000  100 —     100 Investment holding

Austar Company

  Australia  AUD64,000,000  —    100% 100% Coal mining business  Australia  AUD64,000,000  —     100 100 Coal mining business

Yanmei Shipping

  PRC  RMB5,500,000  92% —    92% Transportation via rivers and lakes and the sales of coal and construction materials  PRC  RMB5,500,000  92 —     92 Transportation via rivers and lakes and the sales of coal and construction materials

Yulin Nenghua

  PRC  RMB800,000,000  97% —    97% Development of 600,000 tonne methanol project  PRC  RMB1,400,000,000  100 —     100 Operation of 600,000 tonne methanol project

Zhongyan Trading

  PRC  RMB2,100,000  52.38% —    52.38% Trading and processing of mining machinery  PRC  RMB2,100,000  52.38 —     52.38 Trading and processing of mining machinery

Shanxi Nenghua

  PRC  RMB600,000,000  100% —    100% Investment holding  PRC  RMB600,000,000  100 —     100 Investment holding

Tianchi Energy

  PRC  RMB90,000,000  —    81.31% 81.31% Coal mining business  PRC  RMB90,000,000  —     81.31 81.31 Coal mining business

Tianhao Chemicals

  PRC  RMB150,000,000  —    99.85% 99.85% Development of methanol project  PRC  RMB150,000,000  —     99.85 99.85 Operation of methanol project

Hua Ju Energy

  PRC  RMB288,589,774  74 —     74 Power and heat supply

In February 2007, we acquired the remaining 2% equity interest in Shanxi Nenghua from Lunan Fertilizer Plant, a subsidiary of Yankuang Group. In addition, we made additional capital contribution of RMB 876 million as approved our Board on April 20, 2007 and the equity interest held by the Company in Heze Nenghua increase from 95.67% to 96.67%. As of December 31, 2007, the projects developed by Yulin Nenghua and Heze Nenghua had not yet officially commenced operations.

J. Compliance with and Exemption to Corporate Governance Standards Imposed by the New York Stock Exchange

J.Compliance with and Exemption to Corporate Governance Standards Imposed by the New York Stock Exchange

The New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) has imposed a series of corporate governance listing standards for companies listed on the NYSE in sectionSection 303A of its listing rules. However, the NYSE provides that listed companies that are foreign private issuers, subject to certain limitations and conditions, are permitted to follow “home country” practice in lieu of the provisions of Section 303A.303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. To qualify for this exemption, a listed foreign private issuer must disclose any significant manners in which their corporate governance practices differ from those required by NYSE listing standards.

As of the date of this Annual Report,annual report, 52.86% of our voting rights are vested in the Controlling Shareholder. We therefore are exempt from certain requirements of Section 303A of the NYSE Listed Company Manual: (i) we303A. We are not required to comply with Section 303A.01’s requirements to form a Board with the majority independent requirement of independent directors; (ii) weSection 303A.01 when forming our board of directors. We are not required to comply with the requirements of Section 303A.04’s requirements303A.04 to form a nominating/corporate governance committee composed entirely consisted of independent directors; and (iii)directors. Neither are we are not required to comply with the requirements of Section 303A.05’s requirements303A.05 to form a compensation committee composed entirely consisted of independent directors, and disclose herein.directors.

We have established an audit committee pursuant to Section 303A.06 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual. As a foreign private issuer, we rely on the exemption under Section 303A.00 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, as well as affiliated the director and employee director exemptions as provided under Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to be in compliance with the audit committee requirements set out in Section 303A.06 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.303A.06.

As a foreign private issuer, we are subject to more than one set of corporate governance requirements. In the table below, we set out material differences between our corporate governance practices and the NYSE’s corporate governance requirements as set out in Section 303A of the Listed Company Manual:

   

NYSE Listed Company Manual

Requirements on Corporate

Governance

  

Company’s Practices

Non-management

directors must meet at

regularly scheduled

executive sessions without

management

  Section 303A.03 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual requires non-management directors of each listed company to meet at regularly scheduled executive sessions without management participation.  There is no identical corporate governance requirement in the PRC. We have established a reporting system to the Board to ensure that the Directors stay informed of the our business and operations. We believe that the convening of Board meetings on a regularly basis offers the non-management Directors a well-established communicationan effective forum to voice their concerns and engage in full and open discussions regarding our business affairs.

Corporate Governance

Guidelines

  

Section 303A.09 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual requires that a listed company mustto adopt and disclose corporate governance guidelines. In addition, Section 303A.09 lists out matters that must be addressed in the guidelines:

 

•        director qualification standards;

 

•        director responsibilities;

 

•        director access to management and independent advisors;

 

•        director compensation;

 

•        director orientation and continuing education;

 

•        management succession; and

 

•        annual performance evaluation of the Board.

  Although we have not adopted a separate set of corporate governance guidelines encompassing all corporate governance requirements required by the NYSE, our shareholders have approved relevant corporate rules and measures to address issues pertaining to: the duties, powers and responsibilities of the Shareholders, the Board, the Board of Supervisors, and the independent Directors; the disclosure of information; and connected transactions. We believe that collectively, the aforementioned rules and measures adequately address the corporate governance requirements required by the NYSE and provide a more comprehensive and detailed set of corporate governance requirements that can further facilitate the effective operation of the Company.

Code of Business Conduct

and Ethics

  

Section 303A.10 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual requires that a listed company mustto adopt and disclose a code of business conduct and ethics for directors, officers and employees, and promptly disclose any waivers offrom the code for directors or executive officers.

 

Topics must be addressed in the a code of business conduct and ethics:

 

Conflicts•        conflicts of Interest;

Corporate

•        corporate Opportunities;

Confidentiality;

Fair•        confidentiality;

•        fair dealing;

Protection

•        protection and proper use of company assets;

 

Compliance•        compliance with laws, rules and regulations (including insider trading laws); and

Encouraging

•        encouraging the reporting of any illegal or unethical behavior.

  We have adopted a Codecode of Ethicsethics, which is published on our website, in compliance with PRC laws and regulations as well as the rules of the relevant listing stock exchanges. The Code of Ethics is published on our website. Although our current Codecode of Ethicsethics as adopted does not completely conform with the NYSE rules, we believe that the existing Codecode of Ethicsethics adequately protects the interests of the Company and the Shareholders.

ITEM 11.QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

Market risk represents the potential for loss due to adverse changes in the fair value of financial instruments. As a global concern, we are exposed to adverse developments in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity price risk. These exposures may change over time as our business develops and could have a material adverse impact on our financial results.

Interest Rate Risk. We are exposed to interest rate risk caused by interest rates changes on our liabilities, in particular our long-term liabilities. We are also exposed to cash flow interest rate risk in relation to variable rate bank balances, term deposit, restricted cash and bank borrowings in Renminbi. Our cash flow interest rate risk is mainly concentrated on fluctuations of the PBOC benchmark lending interest rate.rate in relation to our RMB denominated borrowings. We undertake debt obligations to fund our ordinary expenses, including capital expenditures and working capital needs. Upward fluctuations in interest rates increase the cost of new debt and the interest cost of outstanding variable rate liabilities. Fluctuations in interest ratesInterest rate fluctuations can also lead to significant fluctuations in the fair values of our debt obligations. We currently do not have an interest rate hedging policy nor do we use any derivative instruments to hedge our interest rate risk.

On December 28, 2005, Tianchi Energy entered into a long-term loan agreement with the Taiyuan branch of China Minsheng Bank for RMB160 million. TheOur exposures to interest rate risk on the loan was initially 5.85% per annum, adjustedour financial assets and liabilities, as well as our sensitivity to 7.09% for the year of 2007 and continues to be subject to adjustments based on the benchmark interest rate set by the PBOC. The loan will be payable in three installments over a period of three years, with the first installment due on December 22, 2007. The first two installmentsfluctuation are RMB50 million each, and the third installment is RMB60 million. Interest is calculated on a monthly basis.

Tianchi Energy entered into another a long-term loan agreement with the State Development Bank on February 13, 2006, for RMB220 million loan facilities on February 20, 2006. The interest rate of the loans was initially 6.21% per annum, adjusted to 6.84% for the year of 2007 and continues to be subject to adjustments based on the PBOC benchmark interest rates. Beginning May 20, 2008, the principal for the loan became payable in 20 installments over a period of 117 months, at monthly installments of RMB11 million. Interest is calculated on a quarterly basis.

not significant. We have prepared a sensitivity analysis to assess the impact of interest rate fluctuations on our 20072008 operating results. Based on this analysis, we estimate that an increase in the interest rate of 1% would have decreased our reported net income attributable to our equity holders for 20072008 by approximately RMB54.5RMB3.2 million.

Foreign Currency Exchange Rate Risk.Risk. China has adopted a managed floating exchange rate system to allow the value of the Renminbi to fluctuate within a regulated band based on market supply and demand with reference to a basket of currencies. Fluctuations in exchange ratesExchange rate fluctuations may adversely affect the value of our net assets, earnings and any declared dividends when translated or converted into U.S. dollars or Hong Kong dollars.

RMB fluctuations mainly affect our (a) income from coal exports, which must be converted into RMB since our coal exports are denominated in U.S. dollars; (b) conversion of foreign currency deposits; (c) exposure to the foreign currency loans we granted to our foreign operationoperation; and (d) costs of imported equipment and fittings.

The sales and costs of each entity in our Company are generally denominated in the functional currency of the relevant entity. Accordingly, we are not exposed to significant foreign currency risk. Our Company is primarily exposed to fluctuations in the U.S. dollars anddollar, Hong Kong dollars. We do not currently hedge against foreign currency risks.dollar and Australian dollar.

The table below sets forth the foreign currency denominated assets and liabilities of the Company and its Subsidiaries that are in currencies different than the functional currency of the entity that carries such assets or liabilities on its balance sheet as of December 31, 2007.

2008.

  Liabilities  Assets  Liabilities  Assets
  2007  2006  2007  2006  2008  2007  2008  2007
  (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)

United States Dollars(US$)

  2,250  1,354  663,713  834,511  4,447  2,250  910,764  663,713

Euro (“EUR”)

  47,338  13,932  34,018  76,563  —    47,338  15,718  34,018

Hong Kong Dollar (HD$)

  —    —    103,851  457,546

Sterling Pound (“GBP”)

  —    —    —    283

Hong Kong Dollar (HK$)

  —    —    7,286  103,851

Notional amounts to United States Dollar foreign exchange contracts used for hedging

  210,800  —    —    —  

WeExcept as disclosed in our financial statements, we do not have a foreign currency hedging policy. However, our management monitors our foreign exchange exposure and will consider hedging significant currency exposure if the need arises.

We have prepared a sensitivity analysis to assess the impact of exchange rate fluctuations on our operating results based on a 5% increase or decrease in the exchange rates for the U.S. dollar or Hong Kong dollar against the Renminbi. The sensitivity analysis includes only outstanding monetary items denominated in foreign currency and adjusts the translation of these monetary items as of the end of the indicated year for a 5% change in the exchange rates for the relevant currency. The sensitivity analysis also assesses the impact of a 5% increase or decrease in the exchange rate for the Australian dollar against the U.S. dollar, which would affect loans to foreign operations within our Company that are denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the lender or the borrower.

   US$(1)  HK$(1) 
   2008  2007  2008  2007 
   (RMB’000) 

Increase (decrease) to profit and loss

     

- if RMB rate decrease 5% against the respective foreign currency

  58,863   62,804   273   4,945  

- if RMB rate increase 5% against the respective foreign currency

  (58,863 (62,804 (273 (4,945

 

   US$(1)  HK$(1) 
   2007  2006  2007  2006 
   (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)  (RMB’000)  (RMB’000) 

Increase (Decrease) to profit and loss

     

-if RMB rate decrease 5% against the respective foreign currency

  62,804  73,140  4,945  21,788 

-if RMB rate increase 5% against the respective foreign currency

  (62,804) (73,140) (4,945) (21,788)

  US$(2)   US$(2) 
  2007 2006   2008 2007 
  (RMB’000) (RMB’000)   (RMB’000) (RMB’000) 

Increase (Decrease) to profit and loss

   

Increase (decrease) to profit and loss

   

-if AUD rate decrease 5% against the respective foreign currency

  31,305  33,466   21,584   31,305  

-if AUD rate increase 5% against the respective foreign currency

  (31,305) (33,466)  (21,584 (31,305

 

(1)This is mainly attributable to our exposure outstanding on the bank deposits and loans to foreign operations or subsidiaries of US$ and HK$ at the year end.
(2)This is mainly attributable to our exposure outstanding on the loans to foreign operations or subsidiaries where the loan is denominated in a currency other than the functional currency of the borrower, (i.e. AUD).namely the Australian dollar.

During the year ended December 31, 2008, our subsidiary, Yancoal Australia, entered into forward foreign exchange contracts to buy Australian dollars with U.S. dollars to manage the currency risks of foreign currency forecast sales. As of December 31, 2008, the outstanding notional amount of these forward contracts was approximately RMB211 million, which matures between January to July 2009 with a bought floor price and bought ceiling price of 0.6293 and 0.9568, respectively. The ineffective hedging portion of approximately RMB29.4 million, representing the change in the fair value of the forward contracts, was recognized as a selling, general and administrative expense in our consolidated income statement. The effective hedging portion was recognized in the current portion of derivative financial instruments in our consolidated balance sheet. The fair value of the forward contracts is estimated based on the discounted cash flow between the contract forward rate and spot forward rate. As of December 31, 2008, the balance of our derivative financial instruments was approximately RMB29.4 million.

Commodity Price Risk.Risk. Coal prices are subject to cyclical fluctuations from time to time due to imbalances betweenchanges in demand and supply. Fluctuations in pricesPrice fluctuations directly affect our operating and financial performance. We have historically experienced substantial price fluctuations and believe that these fluctuations will continue. The volume-weighted average selling price of our coal products was RMB349.5RMB409.0 in 2005. RMB341.772007 and RMB640.2 in 2006 and RMB408.96 in 2007.2008. As certain portionsa portion of our total sales are derived from export coal sales, any negative developments in the international coal industry may have a material adverse effect onadversely affect our export sales and results of operations.

Equity Price Risk.Risk. In addition to financial instruments, we are exposed to equity price risk because we hold investments in listed equity securities. We currently do not have any arrangements to

hedge the price risk exposure of our investment in equity securities. We have conducted a sensitivity analysis and determined that our exposure to equity price risk stemming from our investment in listed equity securities is not significant.

 

ITEM 12.DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES

Not applicable.

PART II

 

ITEM 13.DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES

As of December 31, 2007,2008, we were not in default, in arrears or otherwise delinquent in the payment of principal or interest of any indebtedness or dividends.

 

ITEM 14.MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF PROCEEDS

None.

ITEM 15.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

ITEM 15.CONTROLS AND PROCEDURES

Evaluation of Disclosure Controls and Procedures

Under the supervision and with the participation of our general manager and chief financial officer, our management conducted an evaluation of the effectiveness of our Company’s disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act, of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), as of December 31, 2007.2008. Based on such evaluation, our general manager and chief financial officer concluded that, as of December 31, 2007,that date, our Company’s disclosure controls and procedures were not effective due to the identification of a material weakness in our internal control over financial reporting described below.

Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting

Under the Exchange Act, our management is responsible for establishing and maintaining adequate internal control over financial reporting as defined in Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f) of the Exchange Act. As such, our management has designed internal control over financial reporting or caused internal control over financial reporting to be designed under its supervision in order to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, as applicable.

Because of its inherent limitations, internal control over financial reporting may not be able to prevent or detect misstatements on a timely basis, which may be a product of collusion, failure to abide by controls, error or fraud. In addition, projections of any evaluation of the internal control’s effectiveness to future periods are subject to the risk that the control may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the internal control policies or procedures may deteriorate.

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis.

Under the supervision of and with the participation of our general manager and our chief financial officer, our management has conducted its evaluation of the effectiveness of our Company’s internal control over financial reporting using the criteria established in theInternal Control-IntegratedControl - Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO). Based on that evaluation, our management has concluded that, as of December 31, 2007,2008, our Company’s internal control over financial reporting was not effective due to the material weakness described below.

A material weakness is a deficiency, or combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of our annual or interim financial statement will be not prevented or detected on a timely basis. In its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007, our management identified the following material weakness:

During the audit procedures of our independent auditor, the auditor identified a number of misstatements and disclosure deficiencies in theour draft consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007 prepared by us.2008. These misstatements and disclosure deficiencies were subsequently corrected by our management and such corrections are reflected in our consolidated financial statements.management. Our management has determined that these adjustments had resulted from the control deficiency because we do not have sufficientthat there are inadequate accounting and finance personnel with adequatelywho have sufficient comprehensive accounting knowledge to properly address certain non-routine accounting and financial reporting matters in accordance with IFRS, and this control deficiency constitutes a material weakness.

Our independent registered public accounting firm, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu,Grant Thornton, has audited the financial statements included in this Annual Reportannual report and has issued an attestation report on pages F-2 to F-3 of this Annual Reportannual report on our Company’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007.2008.

Remediation and Changes in Internal Control over Financial Reporting

During the Reporting Period and sinceSince the discovery of the material weaknesses in our internal control over financial reporting, we have made certain changes in our internal control over financial reporting. These changes are:implemented the following two remediation measures to address the above material weakness.

 

 (1)engaging third-partyWe enhanced our training programs for accounting professionalsand finance personnel to provideemphasize IFRS consulting servicestraining and conduct regular reviewsmade efforts to recruit additional professional personnel with accounting and evaluations;finance experience.

 

 (2)enhancing the Company’sWe continued to refine and elaborate our Subsidiaries’ training programs forfinance and accounting policies and procedures to prevent recurring misstatements and disclosure deficiencies. We encourage our accounting and finance personnel to familiarize themselves with and recruiting additional professional personnel with accountingadhere to our increasingly detailed policy and finance experience; and

(3)enhancing our inventory control over coal materials purchased from third parties, standardizing inventory audit procedures and providing incentives for the implementation of these remedial measures.procedure manuals.

Our management has worked, and will continue to workits efforts to strengthen the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting. Except for the actions described above, there was no change to our internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, our internal control over financial reporting.

ITEM 16A.ITEM 16A.AUDIT COMMITTEE FINANCIAL EXPERT

Our audit committee consists of Mr. Cui Jianming,Zhai Xigui, Mr. Pu Hongjiu, Mr. Wang Xiaojun,Li Weian, Mr. Wang Quanxi,Junyan, Mr. Chen Changchun and Mr. Dong Yunqing. The Board of Directors determined that Mr. Cui Jianming is aZhai Xigui, meets the independence criteria provisions of Section 303A.02 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual and that Mr. Zhai Xigui may be regarded as an audit committee financial expert and serves as chairmanthe term is defined in the instructions to Item 16A of the committee. Mr. Cui has extensive experience in financial accounting and audit management, being a senior auditor, certified accountant and a consultant for the Association of China Certified Accountant. See “Item 6. Directors, Supervisors, Senior Management and Employees” for more details.Form 20-F.

 

ITEM 16B.CODE OF ETHICS

We have adopted a Codecode of Ethicsethics that applies to our Chairman, Vice Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, Board Secretary, Chief Engineer, Controllerchairman, vice chairman, chief executive officer, chief financial officer, board secretary, chief engineer, controller and other senior officers of our finance and audit departments. There have been no amendments to, or waivers from, the code of ethics relating to any of those officers. Our Codecode of Ethics is subject to review and amendment by the Board of Directors from time to time andethics is posted on our corporate website atwww.yanzhoucoal.com.cn/mygsbak/index.aspEnglish/company_5.asp. A copy of our Codecode of Ethicsethics is available to any shareholder, without charge, upon written request to the address on the cover of this Annual Report.annual report.

ITEM 16C.ITEM 16C.PRINCIPAL ACCOUNTANT FEES AND SERVICES

ForIn the two year period ended December 31, 2007, the Company retained Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants Ltd. (Certified Public Accountants in the PRC, Hong Kong excluded) as its international and domestic auditors, respectively. Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Certified Public Accountants Ltd. ceased to be our auditors in 2008. We appointed Grant Thornton and ShineWing Certified Public Accountants as our international and domestic auditors respectively for the year ended December 31, 2008.

The following table sets forth the aggregate audit fees, audit-related fees, tax fees of our principal accountants and other fees billed for products and services provided by our principal accountants other than the foregoing fees for each of the two years ended December 31, 2007:2008:

 

Audit FeesAudit-Related FeesTax FeesAll Other Fees

2006

HK$6,000,000

RMB6,000,000

AUD289,500

HK$300,000—  —  

2007

RMB 12,000,000HK$80,000—  —  
AUD 354,000
   Audit Fees  Audit-Related Fees  Tax Fees  All
Other Fees

2007

  RMB12,000,000

AUD354,000

  HK$80,000  —    —  

2008

  RMB6,960,000   —    —    —  

Before our principal accountants were engaged by ourthe Company or our subsidiaries to render audit or non-audit services, the engagement was approved by our audit committee.

Audit Fees

Audit fees primarily consist of fees for the audits of the consolidated financial statements prepared under IFRS and PRC GAAP and the statutory financial statements of our subsidiaries for the relevant year, the review of interim consolidated financial statements and the audit of our internal control over financial reporting as required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. In 2006, the fee also included the review of our Company’s adjusted statement differences of consolidated shareholder’s equity in accordance with the new and old PRC accounting standards.

Audit-RelatedAudit-related Fees

Audit-related fees primarily consist of fees for assurance and related services which are reasonably related to the performance of audit or review and generally include advisory services regarding specific regulatory filings and reporting procedures and other agreed-upon services related to accounting and billing records. Our Company paid Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu HK$300,000 and HK$80,000 in the year ended December 31, 2006 and 2007 respectively, in relation to the acquisition of Heze Nenghua.

Tax Fees

We did not incur any tax fees for professional service rendered by our principal accountants for tax compliance, tax advice and tax planning during the last two fiscal years.

All Other Fees

We did not incur any other fees for products and services provided by our principal accountants during the last two fiscal years.

Audit Committee Pre-Approval Policies and Procedures

The audit committee of our Board of Directors is responsible for, among other things, the recommendation or termination of external auditors subject to the requirements of applicable domestic and overseas listing rules and regulations. Before our principal accountants were engaged by us to render audit or audit-related services, the engagement was approved by our audit committee as required by applicable rules and regulations of the SEC. For 2007,2008, all of the audit services provided by Deloitte Touche TohmatsuGrant Thornton and Deloitte Touche TohmatsuShineWing Certified Public Accountants Ltd. were pre-approved by our audit committee.

 

ITEM 16D.EXEMPTIONS FROM THE LISTING STANDARDS FOR AUDIT COMMITTEES

Our audit committee consists of four independent non-executive directors, namely, Mr. Cui Jianming,Zhai Xigui, Pu Hongjiu, Wang XiaojunLi Weian and Wang Quanxi;Junyan; one affiliated director, Mr. Chen Changchun;

and one employee director, Mr. Dong Yunqing. As a foreign private issuer, we rely on the exemption under Section 303A.06 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual, as well as affiliated director and employee director exemptions as provided under Rule 10A-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 to remain compliant with the audit committee standards set out in Section 303A.06 of the NYSE Listed Company Manual.

The affiliated director meets the requirements of independence requirement under Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(ii)(A) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 because, except in his capacity as a member of the Company’s Board of Directors and audit committee, he does not receive, directly or indirectly, any consulting, advisory or other compensatory fee from us or any of our subsidiaries. In addition, the affiliated director is not a voting member or the chairman of the audit committee pursuant to our audit committee charter, nor is the affiliated director one of our executive officers. Accordingly, we believe the affiliated director qualifies for the exemption under Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iv)(D).

Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iv)(C) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 provides an exemption to the independence requirement and permits an employee director of a foreign private issuer, who is not an executive officer of that foreign private issuer to serve as a member of the audit committee if such employee director is elected or named to the board of directors or audit committee of the foreign private issuer pursuant to the issuer’s governing law or documents, an employee collective bargaining or similar agreement or other home country legal or listing requirements.

The employee director qualifies for the exemption under Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iv)(C) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 because he is not our executive officer and is elected to the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to the Advisory Opinion Regarding the Establishment of Sound Corporate Procedures for Company Employee Directors and Supervisors, promulgated by the Shandong Economic and Trade Commission on July 20, 2000 (“Shandong Advisory Opinion”). The employee director is not a voting member or the chairman of the audit committee pursuant to our audit committee charter. Accordingly, we believe that the employee director is exempt from the independence requirement pursuant to Rule 10A-3(b)(1)(iv)(C) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.Act.

 

ITEM 16E.PURCHASES OF EQUITY SECURITIES BY THE ISSUER AND AFFILIATED PURCHASERS

Not applicable.

PART III

 

ITEM 17.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

We have elected to provide the Financial Statementsfinancial statements and related information specified in Item 18 in lieu of Item 17.

 

ITEM 18.FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

References areReference is made to pages F-1 to F-59 for year-end financial statements.F-75.

 

ITEM 19.EXHIBITS

Documents filed as exhibits to this Annual Report:annual report:

Exhibit
Number

  

Description

  1.1-  Amended Articles of Association of Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited as approved by the Shareholders on June 15, 2007December 23, 2008 (English translation)
  4.1  -The New Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements (English translation)
  4.2Equity Transfer Agreement on Shandong Hua Ju Energy Co., Ltd. (English translation)
  4.3  The Continuing Connected Transaction Agreements (Incorporated(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to Registrant’sregistrant’s Form 20-F dated June 29, 2006)
  4.2-  4.4  Investment Agreement forto Establish Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to registrant’s Form 20-F dated August 23, 2007 (English translation)

June 26, 2008)

Exhibit  8.1

Number

Description

  8.1-  List of subsidiaries of Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited
12.1-  Certification of general manager pursuant to Rule 13a-14 or 15d-14 promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act of 1934
12.2-  Certification of chief financial officer pursuant to Rule 13a-14 or 15d-14 promulgated under the U.S. Securities Act of 1934
13.1-  Certification of general manager pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as enacted pursuant to Section 906 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
13.2-  Certification of chief financial officer pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as enacted pursuant to Section 906 of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002
15.1-  Revised Independent Technical Review and Resource and Reserve Assessment for Zhaolou Coal Mine and Tianchi Coal Mine Coal (Incorporated(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 15.114.1 to Registrant’s Form 20-F dated June 29, 2007)
99.1-  Statement explaining how earnings per share information was calculated in this Annual Reportannual report

SIGNATURES

The registrant hereby certifies that it meets all the requirements for filing on Form 20-F and that it has duly caused and authorized the undersigned to sign this Annual Reportannual report on its behalf.

 

 YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED
 (Registrant)
Date: June 26, 200825, 2009 By: 

/s/ YANG Deyu

 Name: YANG Deyu
 Title: General Manager


LOGO

YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED
LOGO
Consolidated Financial Statements

For the years ended December 31, 2007, 2006 and 2005 and

Reports of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2008, 2007 2006 AND 20052006

AND REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

 

CONTENTS

  PAGE(S)

REPORTS OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

  F-1 – F-3- F-4

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS

  F-4F-5

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

  F-5F-6

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

  F-6F-7

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

  F-7F-8 & F-8F-9

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

  F-9 – F-59F-10 - F-75


LOGO

YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITEDMember of Grant Thornton International Ltd

LOGO

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITEDLOGO

LOGO

(A joint stock company with limited liability established in the People’s Republic of China)

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheetssheet of Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) as of December 31, 2007 and 2006,2008, and the related consolidated income statements, statementsstatement, statement of changes in equity, and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2007, all expressed in Renminbi.year then ended. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Group’sCompany’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.audit.

We conducted our auditsaudit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provideaudit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, suchthe consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited and subsidiariesthe Group as of December 31, 2007 and 2006,2008, and the results of theirits operations and theirits cash flows for each of the three years in the periodyear then ended, December 31, 2007, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

We also have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the Group’s internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007,2008, based on the criteria established in Internal Control—Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission and our report dated June 26, 200825, 2009 expressed an adverse opinion on the Group’s internal control over financial reporting because of a material weakness.

Deloitte Touche TohmatsuGrant Thornton
Certified Public Accountants
Hong Kong
June 26, 2008

-F-1-Hong Kong

June 25, 2009


LOGO

YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITEDMember of Grant Thornton International Ltd

LOGO

REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITEDLOGO

LOGO

(A joint stock company with limited liability established in the People’s Republic of China)

We have audited the internal control over financial reporting of Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited and its subsidiaries (the “Group”) as of December 31, 2007,2008, based on criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission. The Company’s management is responsible for maintaining effective internal control over financial reporting and for its assessment of the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting, included in the Management’s Report on Internal Control over Financial Reporting disclosed in Item 15 of the Form 20-F. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on the Group’s internal control over financial reporting based on our audit.

We conducted our audit in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether effective internal control over financial reporting was maintained in all material respects. Our audit included obtaining an understanding of internal control over financial reporting, assessing the risk that a material weakness exists, testing and evaluating the design and operating effectiveness of internal control based on the assessed risk, and performing such other procedures as we considered necessary in the circumstances. We believe that our audit provides a reasonable basis for our opinion.

A company’s internal control over financial reporting is a process designed by, or under the supervision of, the company’s principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, and effected by the company’s board of directors, management, and other personnel to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. A company’s internal control over financial reporting includes those policies and procedures that (1) pertain to the maintenance of records that, in reasonable detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the company; (2) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, and that receipts and expenditures of the company are being made only in accordance with authorizations of management and directors of the company; and (3) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use, or disposition of the company’s assets that could have a material effect on the financial statements.

Because of theits inherent limitations, of internal control over financial reporting including the possibility of collusion or improper management override of controls, material misstatements due to error or fraud may not be preventedprevent or detected on a timely basis.detect misstatements. Also, projections of any evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control over financial reporting to future periods are subject to the risk that the controls may become inadequate because of changes in conditions, or that the degree of compliance with the policies or procedures may deteriorate.

A material weakness is a deficiency, or a combination of deficiencies, in internal control over financial reporting, such that there is a reasonable possibility that a material misstatement of the company’s annual or interim financial statements will not be prevented or detected on a timely basis. The following material weakness has been identified and included in management’s assessment:

During the course of theour audit, procedures, we found a number of misstatements and disclosure deficiencies in the Company draft consolidated financial statements for the year ended December 31, 2007.2008. These misstatements and disclosure deficiencies were subsequently corrected by the management. ManagementThe management has determined that these adjustments resulted from the control deficiency that there are inadequate accounting and finance personnel who have sufficient comprehensive accounting knowledge to properly address certain non-routine accounting and financial reporting matters according to International Financial Reporting Standards and this control deficiency constitutes a material weakness.

This material weakness was considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007, of the Group and this report does not affect our report on such financial statements.

-F-2-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

In our opinion, because of the effect of the material weakness identified above on the achievement of the objectives of the control criteria, the Group has not maintained effective internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2007,2008, based on the criteria established in Internal Control — Integrated Framework issued by the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission.

We also have also audited, in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2007,2008 of the Group. The material weakness identified above was considered in determining the nature, timing, and extent of audit tests applied in our audit of the consolidated financial statements as of and for the year ended December 31, 2008 of the Group, and this report does not affect our report dated June 26, 200825, 2009, which expressed an unqualified opinion on those financial statements.

Deloitte Touche TohmatsuGrant Thornton
Certified Public Accountants
Hong Kong
June 26, 2008

-F-3-Hong Kong

June 25, 2009


REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

TO THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND SHAREHOLDERS OF YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

(A joint stock company with limited liability established in the People’s Republic of China)

We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheet of Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited and subsidiaries (the “Group”) as of December 31, 2007, and the related consolidated income statements, statements of changes in equity, and cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, all expressed in Renminbi. These consolidated financial statements are the responsibility of the Group’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these consolidated financial statements based on our audits.

We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. An audit also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

In our opinion, such 2007 and 2006 consolidated financial statements present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2007, and the results of their operations and their cash flows for the years ended December 31, 2007 and 2006, in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

As discussed in Note 16 to the consolidated financial statements, the 2007 and 2006 reported earnings per American Depositary Shares (“ADS”) information has been retrospectively adjusted for the share split in July 2008.

Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu

LOGOCertified Public Accountants

Hong Kong

June 26, 2008 (June 25, 2009 as to Note 16)

LOGO

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS

 

 

     Year ended December 31,      Year ended December 31, 
  NOTES  2007 2006 2005   NOTES  2008 2007 2006 
     RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000      RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 

GROSS SALES OF COAL

  7  14,906,746  12,783,567  12,283,588   7  24,557,521   14,906,746   12,783,567  

RAILWAY TRANSPORTATION SERVICE INCOME

    203,714  160,399  163,437     247,199   203,714   160,399  

GROSS SALES OF ELECTRICITY POWER

    59,811   —     —    

GROSS SALES OF METHANOL

    38,550   —     —    
                        

TOTAL REVENUE

    15,110,460  12,943,966  12,447,025     24,903,081   15,110,460   12,943,966  

TRANSPORTATION COSTS OF COAL

  7  (549,816) (936,619) (930,103)  7  (508,712 (549,816 (936,619

COST OF SALES AND SERVICE PROVIDED

  8  (7,331,924) (6,190,069) (5,288,588)  8  (11,816,789 (7,331,924 (6,190,069

COST OF ELECTRICITY POWER

    (88,253 —     —    

COST OF METHANOL

    (37,834 —     —    
                        

GROSS PROFIT

    7,228,720  5,817,278  6,228,334     12,451,493   7,228,720   5,817,278  

SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

  9  (2,854,677) (2,230,142) (1,918,788)  9  (3,832,031 (2,854,677 (2,230,142

SHARE OF LOSS OF AN ASSOCIATE

  28  (2,438) —    —     28  (67,367 (2,438 —    

OTHER INCOME

  10  198,930  165,837  135,038   10  351,493   198,930   165,837  

INTEREST EXPENSE

  11  (27,222) (26,349) (24,611)  11  (38,360 (27,222 (26,349
                        

PROFIT BEFORE INCOME TAXES

    4,543,313  3,726,624  4,419,973     8,865,228   4,543,313   3,726,624  

INCOME TAXES

  12  (1,315,520) (1,354,656) (1,538,036)  12  (2,385,617 (1,315,520 (1,354,656
                        

PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

  13  3,227,793  2,371,968  2,881,937   13  6,479,611   3,227,793   2,371,968  
                        

Attributable to:

            

Equity holders of the Company

    3,230,450  2,372,985  2,881,461     6,488,908   3,230,450   2,372,985  

Minority interests

    (2,657) (1,017) 476     (9,297 (2,657 (1,017
                        
    3,227,793  2,371,968  2,881,937     6,479,611   3,227,793   2,371,968  
                        

APPROPRIATIONS TO RESERVES

    701,860  566,728  755,530     1,167,454   701,860   566,728  
            
            

DIVIDEND RECOGNIZED AS DISTRIBUTION DURING THE YEAR

  15  983,680  1,082,048  799,240   15  836,128   983,680   1,082,048  
                        

EARNINGS PER SHARE, BASIC

  16  RMB0.66  RMB0.48  RMB0.59   16  RMB1.32   RMB0.66   RMB0.48  
            
            

EARNINGS PER ADS, BASIC

  16  RMB32.84  RMB24.12  RMB29.29   16  RMB13.19   RMB6.56   RMB4.82  
                        

LOGO

 

-F-4-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS

 

 

     At December 31,     At December 31,
  NOTES  2007  2006  NOTES  2008  2007
     RMB’000  RMB’000     RMB’000  RMB’000

ASSETS

            

CURRENT ASSETS

            

Bank balances and cash

  17  4,424,561  4,715,945  17  8,439,578  4,424,561

Term deposits

  17  1,294,984  1,194,531  17  1,153,385  1,294,984

Restricted cash

  17  11,185  68,562  17  18,823  11,185

Bills and accounts receivable

  18  2,753,485  2,211,909  18  2,977,266  2,753,485

Inventories

  19  440,134  579,561  19  819,599  440,134

Other loans receivable

  20  640,000  640,000  20  —    640,000

Prepayments and other receivables

  21  326,668  231,505  21  1,567,210  326,668

Prepaid lease payments

  22  13,976  13,746  22  15,296  13,976

Prepayment for resources compensation fees

  23  3,240  3,240  23  3,240  3,240

Prepayment for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs

  32  —    212,912
                

TOTAL CURRENT ASSETS

    9,908,233  9,871,911    14,994,397  9,908,233

MINING RIGHTS

  24  356,012  307,909

PREPAID LEASE PAYMENTS

  22  576,412  578,988

PREPAYMENT FOR RESOURCES COMPENSATION FEES

  23  18,488  21,827

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

  25  13,524,594  12,139,939

GOODWILL

  26  298,650  295,584

INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES

  27  409,526  96,142

INTERESTS IN AN ASSOCIATE

  28  897,562  —  

RESTRICTED CASH

  17  48,822  49,023

DEPOSIT MADE ON INVESTMENT

  29  117,926  97,426

DEFERRED TAX ASSETS

  34  31,175  —  

NON-CURRENT ASSETS

      

Mining rights

  24  1,039,707  356,012

Prepaid lease payments

  22  628,119  576,412

Prepayment for resources compensation fees

  23  15,490  18,488

Property, plant and equipment

  25  14,149,446  13,524,594

Goodwill

  26  298,650  298,650

Investments in securities

  27  139,887  409,526

Interests in an associate

  28  830,195  897,562

Restricted cash

  17  78,791  48,822

Deposit made on investment

  29  117,926  117,926

Deferred tax assets

  35  46,023  31,175
        

TOTAL NON-CURRENT ASSETS

    17,344,234  16,279,167
                

TOTAL ASSETS

    26,187,400  23,458,749    32,338,631  26,187,400
                

LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

            

CURRENT LIABILITIES

            

Bills and accounts payable

  30  657,517  745,685  30  910,127  657,517

Other payables and accrued expenses

  31  2,671,117  1,899,684  31  2,698,256  2,671,117

Provision for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs

  32  19,635  —    32  450,979  19,635

Amounts due to Parent Company and its subsidiary companies

  40  669,275  982,347  40  706,328  669,275

Unsecured bank borrowings - due within one year

  33  72,000  50,000

Unsecured bank borrowings – due within one year

  33  82,000  72,000

Derivative financial instruments

  34  29,435  —  

Taxes payable

    9,934  150,332    419,866  9,934
                

TOTAL CURRENT LIABILITIES

    4,099,478  3,828,048    5,296,991  4,099,478

AMOUNTS DUE TO PARENT COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES - DUE AFTER ONE YEAR

  40  14,956  23,138

UNSECURED BANK BORROWINGS - DUE AFTER ONE YEAR

  33  258,000  330,000

DEFERRED TAX LIABILITY

  34  326,354  283,823

NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

      

Amounts due to Parent Company and its subsidiary companies – due after one year

  40  7,253  14,956

Unsecured bank borrowings – due after one year

  33  176,000  258,000

Deferred tax liability

  35  41,777  326,354
        

TOTAL NON-CURRENT LIABILITIES

    225,030  599,310
                

TOTAL LIABILITIES

    4,698,788  4,465,009    5,522,021  4,698,788

CAPITAL AND RESERVES

        36    

SHARE CAPITAL

  35  4,918,400  4,918,400    4,918,400  4,918,400

RESERVES

    16,499,137  14,013,379    21,836,724  16,499,137
                

EQUITY ATTRIBUTABLE TO EQUITY HOLDERS OF THE COMPANY

    21,417,537  18,931,779    26,755,124  21,417,537

MINORITY INTEREST

    71,075  61,961    61,486  71,075
                

TOTAL EQUITY

    21,488,612  18,993,740    26,816,610  21,488,612
        
        

TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY

    26,187,400  23,458,749    32,338,631  26,187,400
                

LOGO

 

-F-5-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

 

 

  Share
capital
  Share
premium
 Future
development
fund
  Statutory
common
reserve
fund
  Statutory
common
welfare
fund
 Translation
reserve
 Investment
revaluation
reserve
 Retained
earnings
 Attributable to
equity holders
of the
Company
 Minority
interest
 Total  Share
capital
 Share
premium
 Future
development
fund
 Statutory
common
reserve
fund
 Statutory
common
welfare
fund
 Translation
reserve
 Investment
revaluation

reserve
 Cash
flow

hedge
reserve
 Retained
earnings
 Attributable
to equity
holders of
the
Company
 Minority
interest
 Total 
  RMB’000  RMB’000 RMB’000
(note 35)
  RMB’000
(note 35)
  RMB’000
(note 35)
 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000  RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 

Balance at January 1, 2005

  3,074,000  4,825,402  1,446,459  769,593  384,875  —    —    5,051,043  15,551,372  3,674  15,555,046 
                                   (note 36) (note 36) (note 36) (note 36) 

Exchange difference arising on translation of foreign operations recognized directly in equity

  —    —    —    —    —    (15,016) —    —    (15,016) ���    (15,016)

Balance at January 1, 2006

 4,918,400 2,981,002 1,827,667 1,019,141 509,649   (15,016 —     —     6,377,734   17,618,577   28,731   17,647,308  

Gain on fair value change of available-for-sale investments

 —   —   —   —   —     —     33,961   —     —     33,961   —     33,961  

Deferred taxes on fair value change of available-for-sale investments

 —   —   —   —   —     —     (11,207 —     —     (11,207 —     (11,207

Exchange difference arising on translation of foreign operations

 —   —   —   —   —     (489 —     —     —     (489 —     (489
                                

Net income recognized directly in equity

 —   —   —   —   —     (489 22,754   —     —     22,265   —     22,265  

Profit for the year

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    2,881,461  2,881,461  476  2,881,937  —   —   —   —   —     —     —     —     2,372,985   2,372,985   (1,017 2,371,968  
                                                                  

Total recognized income and expenses for the year

  —    —    —    —    —    (15,016) —    2,881,461  2,866,445  476  2,866,921  —   —   —   —   —     (489 22,754   —     2,372,985   2,395,250   (1,017 2,394,233  
                                  

Appropriations to reserves

  —    —    381,208  249,548  124,774  —    —    (755,530) —    —    —    —   —   390,907 175,821 —     —     —     —     (566,728 —     —     —    

Bonus issue of shares

  1,844,400  (1,844,400) —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —   

Transfer

 —   —   —   509,649 (509,649 —     —     —     —     —     —     —    

Dividends

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    (799,240) (799,240) (237) (799,477) —   —   —   —   —     —     —     —     (1,082,048 (1,082,048 (271 (1,082,319

Acquisition of a subsidiary

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —    24,818  24,818  —   —   —   —   —     —     —     —     —     —     34,518   34,518  
                                                                  

Balance at December 31, 2005

  4,918,400  2,981,002  1,827,667  1,019,141  509,649  (15,016) —    6,377,734  17,618,577  28,731  17,647,308 

Balance at December 31, 2006

 4,918,400 2,981,002 2,218,574 1,704,611 —     (15,505 22,754   —     7,101,943   18,931,779   61,961   18,993,740  
                                                                  

Balance at January 1, 2006

  4,918,400  2,981,002  1,827,667  1,019,141  509,649  (15,016) —    6,377,734  17,618,577  28,731  17,647,308 
                                  

Balance at January 1, 2007

 4,918,400 2,981,002 2,218,574 1,704,611 —     (15,505 22,754   —     7,101,943   18,931,779   61,961   18,993,740  

Gain on fair value change of available-for-sale investments

  —    —    —    —    —    —    33,961  —    33,961  —    33,961  —   —   —   —   —     —     312,944   —     —     312,944   —     312,944  

Deferred taxes on fair value change of available-for-sale investments

  —    —    —    —    —    —    (11,207) —    (11,207) —    (11,207) —   —   —   —   —     —     (75,519 —     —     (75,519 —     (75,519

Exchange difference arising on translation of foreign operations

  —    —    —    —     (489) —    —    (489) —    (489) —   —   —   —   —     1,563   —     —     —     1,563   —     1,563  
                                                                  

Net income recognized directly in equity

  —    —    —    —    —    (489) 22,754  —    22,265  —    22,265  —   —   —   —   —     1,563   237,425   —     —     238,988   —     238,988  

Profit for the year

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    2,372,985  2,372,985  (1,017) 2,371,968  —   —   —   —   —     —     —     —     3,230,450   3,230,450   (2,657 3,227,793  
                                                                  

Total recognized income and expenses for the year

  —    —    —    —    —    (489) 22,754  2,372,985  2,395,250  (1,017) 2,394,233 
                                  

Appropriations to reserves

  —    —    390,907  175,821  —    —    —    (566,728) —    —    —   

Transfer

  —    —    —    509,649  (509,649) —    —    —    —    —    —   

Dividends

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    (1,082,048) (1,082,048) (271) (1,082,319)

Acquisition of a subsidiary

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —    34,518  34,518 
                                  

Balance at December 31, 2006

  4,918,400  2,981,002  2,218,574  1,704,611  —    (15,505) 22,754  7,101,943  18,931,779  61,961  18,993,740 
                                  

Balance at January 1, 2007

  4,918,400  2,981,002  2,218,574  1,704,611  —    (15,505) 22,754  7,101,943  18,931,779  61,961  18,993,740 
                                  

Gain on fair value change of available-for-sale investments

  —    —    —    —    —    —    312,944  —    312,944  —    312,944 

Deferred taxes on fair value change of available-for-sale investments

  —    —    —    —    —    —    (75,519) —    (75,519) —    (75,519)

Exchange difference arising on translation of foreign operations

  —    —    —    —    —    1,563  —    —    1,563  —    1,563 
                                  

Net income recognized directly in equity

  —    —    —    —    —    1,563  237,425  —    238,988  —    238,988 

Profit for the year

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    3,230,450  3,230,450  (2,657) 3.227,793 
                                  

Total recognized income and expenses for the year

  —    —    —    —    —    1,563  237,425  3,230,450  3,469,438  (2,657) 3,466,781  —   —   —   —   —     1,563   237,425   —     3,230,450   3,469,438   (2,657 3,466,781  
                                  

Appropriations to reserves

  —    —    368,531  333,329  —    —    —    (701,860) —    —    —    —   —   368,531 333,329 —     —     —     —     (701,860 —     —     —    

Dividends

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    (983,680) (983,680) (330) (984,010) —   —   —   —   —     —     —     —     (983,680 (983,680 (330 (984,010

Contribution from a minority Shareholder of a subsidiary

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —    24,000  24,000 

Contribution from a minority shareholder of a subsidiary

 —   —   —   —   —     —     —     —     —     —     24,000   24,000  

Acquisition of additional interest in a subsidiary

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —    (11,899) (11,899) —   —   —   —   —     —     —     —     —     —     (11,899 (11,899
                                                                  

Balance at December 31, 2007

  4,918,400  2,981,002  2,587,105  2,037,940  —    (13,942) 260,179  8,646,853  21,417,537  71,075  21,488,612  4,918,400 2,981,002 2,587,105 2,037,940 —     (13,942 260,179   —     8,646,853   21,417,537   71,075   21,488,612  
                                                                  

Balance at January 1, 2008

 4,918,400 2,981,002 2,587,105 2,037,940 —     (13,942 260,179   —     8,646,853   21,417,537   71,075   21,488,612  

Loss on fair value change of available-for-sale investments

 —   —   —   —   —     —     (269,639 —     —     (269,639 —     (269,639

Deferred taxes on fair value change of available-for-sale investments

 —   —   —   —   —     —     67,409   —     —     67,409   —     67,409  

Exchange difference arising on translation of foreign operations

 —   —   —   —   —     (101,227 —     —     —     (101,227 —     (101,227

Cash flow hedge reserve recognized

 —   —   —   —   —     —     —     (20,567 —     (20,567 —     (20,567

Deferred taxes arising on change of cash flow hedge reserve

 —   —   —   —   —     —     —     8,831   —     8,831   —     8,831  
                                

Net loss recognized directly in equity

 —   —   —   —   —     (101,227 (202,230 (11,736 —     (315,193 —     (315,193

Profit for the year

 —   —   —   —   —     —     —     —     6,488,908   6,488,908   (9,297 6,479,611  
                                

Total recognized income and expenses for the year

 —   —   —   —   —     (101,227 (202,230 (11,736 6,488,908   6,173,715   (9,297 6,164,418  

Appropriations to reserves

 —   —   382,219 785,235 —     —     —     —     (1,167,454 —     —     —    

Dividends

 —   —   —   —   —     —     —     —     (836,128 (836,128 (292 (836,420
                                

Balance at December 31, 2008

 4,918,400 2,981,002 2,969,324 2,823,175 —     (115,169 57,949   (11,736 13,132,179   26,755,124   61,486   26,816,610  
                                

LOGO

 

-F-6-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

 

 

     Year ended December 31,      Year ended December 31, 
  NOTES  2007 2006 2005   NOTES  2008 2007 2006 
     RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000      RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

            

Profit before income taxes

    4,543,313  3,726,624  4,419,973     8,865,228   4,543,313   3,726,624  

Adjustments for:

            

Interest expenses

    27,222  26,349  24,611     38,360   27,222   26,349  

Interest income

    (103,564) (94,372) (91,715)    (275,220 (103,564 (94,372

Dividend income

    (7,143) (6,311) (4,465)    (7,401 (7,143 (6,311

Net unrealized foreign exchange losses

    284,278   —     —    

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

    1,237,132  1,061,976  952,096     1,140,809   1,237,132   1,061,976  

Release of prepaid lease payments

    13,861  13,826  13,171     15,109   13,861   13,826  

Amortization of prepayment for resources compensation fees

    3,339  320  —       2,998   3,339   320  

Amortization of mining rights

    15,728  12,069  6,624     35,652   15,728   12,069  

(Reversal of) impairment loss on accounts receivable and other receivables

    (4,363) (19,717) —   

Reversal of impairment loss on accounts receivable and other receivables

    (4,369 (4,363 (19,717

Share of loss of an associate

    2,438  —    —       67,367   2,438   —    

(Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

    (25,002) 73,531  527     (12,317 (25,002 73,531  

Impairment loss on property, plant and equipment

    339,743  —    —       —     339,743   —    
                        

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital

    6,042,704  4,794,295  5,320,822     10,150,494   6,042,704   4,794,295  

(Increase) decrease in bills and accounts receivable

    (536,673) 40,527  (1,001,048)    (217,012 (536,673 40,527  

Decrease (increase) in inventories

    145,891  (66,199) 59,989 

Decrease(increase) in prepayment (provision) for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental cost

    232,547  (55,401) (53,377)

Increase in prepayments and other receivables

    (108,607) (10,805) (17,261)

Decrease in amounts due from Parent Company and its subsidiary companies

    —    —    213,871 

(Increase) decrease in inventories

    (405,200 145,891   (66,199

Movement in land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental cost

    431,344   232,547   (55,401

Increase in prepayments and other current assets

    (1,242,027 (108,607 (10,805

Increase in prepaid lease payments

    —    (1,944) (14,691)    —     —     (1,944

(Decrease) Increase in bills and accounts payable

    (90,180) 235,899  19,379 

Increase (decrease) in bills and accounts payable

    263,755   (90,180 235,899  

Increase in other payables and accrued expenses

    622,128  64,281  157,421     34,481   622,128   64,281  

(Decrease) Increase in amounts due to Parent Company and its subsidiary companies

    (315,065) 471,464  479,067 
            

Increase (decrease) in amounts due to Parent Company and its subsidiary companies

    40,749   (315,065 471,464  

Cash generated from operations

    5,992,745  5,472,117  5,164,172     9,056,584   5,992,745   5,472,117  

Income taxes paid

    (1,520,081) (1,782,465) (1,296,879)    (2,207,217 (1,520,081 (1,782,465

Interest paid

    (24,722) (23,179) (24,199)    (36,511 (24,722 (23,179

Interest income received

    103,564  94,372  91,715     275,220   103,564   94,372  

Dividend income received

    7,143  6,311  4,465     7,401   7,143   6,311  
                        

NET CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

    4,558,649  3,767,156  3,939,274     7,095,477   4,558,649   3,767,156  
                        

(Continued)

LOGO

      Year ended December 31, 
   NOTES  2008  2007  2006 
      RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

      

Decrease (increase) in term deposits

    141,599   (100,453 131,804  

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

    (2,027,030 (2,772,586 (3,137,145

Decrease in other loans receivable

    640,000   —     —    

(Increase) decrease in restricted cash

    (50,412 59,404   (50,529

Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment

    19,829   31,593   14,165  

Acquisition of Shanxi Group

  39  —     (14,965 (444,204

Acquisition of Southland

    —     —     (18,544

Deposit made on investment

    —     (20,500 (97,426

Acquisition of mining rights in Southland

    —     (61,923 (23,644

Acquisition of mining rights in Zhaolou

    (747,339 —     —    

Purchase of land use right

    (68,136 (11,515 —    

Investment in an associate

    —     (900,000 —    
            

NET CASH FLOW USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    (2,091,489 (3,790,945 (3,625,523
            

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

      

Dividend paid

    (836,128 (983,680 (1,082,048

Repayments of bank borrowings

    (72,000 (50,000 (200,000

Repayment to Parent Company and its subsidiary companies in respect of consideration for acquisition of Jining III

    (13,248 (8,689 (9,230

Dividend paid to a minority shareholder of a subsidiary

    (292 (330 (271

Contribution from a minority shareholder of a subsidiary

    —     24,000   —    
            

NET CASH FLOW USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    (921,668 (1,018,699 (1,291,549
            

NET INCREASE (DECREASE) IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

    4,082,320   (250,995 (1,149,916

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, AT JANUARY 1

    4,424,561   4,715,945   5,885,581  

EFFECT OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES

    (67,303 (40,389 (19,720
            

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, DECEMBER 31, REPRESENTED BY BANK BALANCES AND CASH

    8,439,578   4,424,561   4,715,945  
            

LOGO

 

-F-7-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

      Year ended December 31, 
   NOTES  2007  2006  2005 
      RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES

      

Decrease (increase) in term deposits

    (100,453) 131,804  (1,326,335)

Purchase of property, plant and equipment

    (2,772,586) (3,137,145) (1,315,431)

Decrease in other loans receivable

    —    —    210,000 

Decrease (increase) in restricted cash

    59,404  (50,529) (5,325)

Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment

    31,593  14,165  4,378 

Acquisition of Shanxi Group

  38  (14,965) (444,204) —   

Acquisition of Heze

  39  —    —    170,247 

Acquisition of Southland

    —    (18,544) —   

Deposit made on investment

    (20,500) (97,426) —   

Acquisition of mining rights in Southland

    (61,923) (23,644) —   

Purchase of land use right

    (11,515) —    —   

Investment in an associate

    (900,000) —    —   
            

NET CASH FLOW USED IN INVESTING ACTIVITIES

    (3,790,945) (3,625,523) (2,262,466)
            

FINANCING ACTIVITIES

      

Dividend paid

    (983,680) (1,082,048) (799,240)

Repayments of bank borrowings

    (50,000) (200,000) (200,000)

Repayment to Parent Company and its subsidiary companies in respect of consideration for acquisition of Jining III

    (8,689) (9,230) (9,802)

Dividend paid to a minority shareholder of a subsidiary

    (330) (271) (237)

Contribution from a minority shareholder of a subsidiary

    24,000  —    —   
            

NET CASH FLOW USED IN FINANCING ACTIVITIES

    (1,018,699) (1,291,549) (1,009,279)
            

NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

    (250,995) (1,149,916) 667,529 

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, AT JANUARY 1

    4,715,945  5,885,581  5,216,738 

EFFECT OF FOREIGN EXCHANGE RATE CHANGES

    (40,389) (19,720) 1,314 
            

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, DECEMBER 31, REPRESENTED BY BANK BALANCES AND CASH

    4,424,561  4,715,945  5,885,581 
            

-F-8-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

 

 

1.GENERAL

Organization and principal activities

Yanzhou Coal Mining Company Limited (the “Company”) is established as a joint stock company with limited liability in the People’s Republic of China (the “PRC”). In April 2001, the status of the Company was changed to that of a Sino-foreignsino-foreign joint stock limited company. The Company’s A shares are listed on the Shanghai Securities Exchange (“SSE”), its H shares are listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (the “SEHK”), and its American Depositary Shares (“ADS”, one ADS represents 5010 H shares) are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. The addresses of the registered office and principal place of business of the Company are disclosed in the introduction to the annual report.

The Company operates six coal mines, namely the Xinglongzhuang coal mine, Baodian coal mine, Nantun coal mine, Dongtan coal mine, Jining II coal mine (“Jining II”) and Jining III coal mine (“Jining III”), as well as a regional rail network that links these mines with the national rail network. The Company’s parent and ultimate holding company is Yankuang Group Corporation Limited (the “Parent Company”), a state-owned enterprise in the PRC.

The principal activities of the Company’s associate and subsidiaries are set out in notes 28 and 45, respectively.

As at December 31, 2007,2008, the Group has a net current assets of RMB5,808,755,000 (2006: RMB6,043,863,000)RMB9,697,406,000 (2007: RMB5,808,755,000) and total asset less current liabilities of RMB22,087,922,000. (2006:RMB19,630,701,000)RMB27,041,640,000 (2007:RMB22,087,922,000).

Acquisitions and establishment of major subsidiaries

In 2005, the Company acquired a 95.67% equity interest in Yankuang Heze Power Chemical Company Limited (“Heze”) from the Parent Company at cash consideration of RMB584,008,000. The principal activities of Heze are to conduct the initial preparation of the coal mines at the Juye coalfield which includes obtaining the approvals for the coal mine projects, applying rights to explore for coal and preparing the construction work of the coal mines.

In 2006, the Company acquired a 98% equity interest in Yankuang Shanxi NenghuaNeng Hua Company Limited (“Shanxi Neng Hua”) and its subsidiaries (collectively referred as the “Shanxi Group”) from the Parent Company at cash consideration of RMB733,346,000. The principal activities of Shanxi Group are to invest in heat and electricity, manufacture and sale of mining machinery and engine products, coal mining and the development of integrated coal technology.

Shanxi NenghuaNeng Hua is an investment holding company, which holds 81.31% equity interest in Shanxi Heshun Tianchi Energy Company Limited (“Shanxi Tianchi”) and approximately 99.85% equity interest in Shanxi Tianhao Chemical Company Limited (“Shanxi Tianhao”). The principal activities of Shanxi Tianchi are to exploit and sale of coal from Tianchi Coal Mine, the principal asset of Shanxi Tianchi. Shanxi Tianchi has completed the construction of Tianchi Coal Mine and commenced production by the end of 2006. Shanxi Tianhao is established to engage in the production of methanol and other chemical products, coke production, exploration and sales. The construction of the methanol facilities by Shanxi Tianhao commenced in March 2006 and it has not yet commenced production as at December 31, 2007.

2008. In 2007, the Company further acquired the remaining 2% equity interest in Shanxi Neng Hua from a subsidiary of the Parent Company at cash consideration of RMB14,965,000.

-F-9-The Company originally held a 97% equity interest in Yanzhou Coal Yulin Power Chemical Co., Ltd. (“Yulin”). During the year, the Company acquired the remaining 3% equity interest in Yulin. Moreover, the Company made further investment of RMB600,000,000 in Yulin in the current year.


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

2.BASIS OF PRESENTATION

The accompanying consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board.

The consolidated financial statements include applicable disclosure requiredwere approved and authorized for issue by the Hong Kong Companies Ordinance and by the Rules Governing the ListingBoard of SecuritiesDirectors on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.June 25, 2009.

The consolidated financial statements are presented in Renminbi, which is also the functional currency of the Company.

 

3.ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS

In the current year, the Group has applied, for the first time, a number of new standard, amendment and interpretations (“new IFRSs”) applicable to the Group issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (the “IASB”) and the International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (the IFRIC) of IASB, which are effective for the Group’s financial year beginning January 1, 2007.2008.

 

International Accounting Standard

  Standard (“IAS”) 1 (Amendment)39 & IFRS 7 (Amendments)

  

Capital Disclosures

Reclassification of Financial Assets
IFRIC 11  IFRS 2 - Group and Treasury Share Transactions
IFRS 7IFRIC 12Service Concession Arrangements
IFRIC 14  

Financial Instruments: Disclosures

IFRIC 7

Applying the Restatement Approach under IAS 29 Financial Reporting in Hyperinflationary Economies

IFRIC 8

Scope of IFRS 2

IFRIC 9

Reassessment of Embedded Derivatives

IFRIC 10

Interim Financial Reporting19 - The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and Impairmenttheir Interaction

The adoption of the new IFRSs had no material effect on how the results and the financial position for the current or prior accounting years have been prepared. Accordingly, no prior year adjustment has been required.

The Group has applied the disclosure requirements under IAS 1 (Amendment) and IFRS 7. Certain information presented in prior year under the requirements of IAS 32 has been removed and the relevant comparative information based on the requirement of IAS 1 (Amendment) and IFRS 7 has been presented for the first time in the current year.

The Group has not early applied the following new and revised standards, amendments or interpretations that have been issued but are not yet effective. The directors of the Company anticipate that the application of these standards or interpretations will have no material impact on the results or financial position of the Group, except IFRS 8 Operating Segments.

 

IFRSs (Amendments)

  Improvements toof IFRSs1
IFRSs (Amendments)  Improvements of IFRSs 20092
IAS 1 (Revised)  

Presentation of Financial Statements23

IAS 23 (Revised)  

Borrowing Costs23

IAS 27 (Revised)  

Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements34

IAS 32 & 1 &32 (Amendments)  

Puttable Financial Instruments and Obligations

Arising on Liquidation23

IAS 39 (Amendment)  Eligible Hedged Items4
IFRS 1& IAS 27 (Amendments)

Cost of an Investment in a subsidiary, Jointly Controlled Entity or an Associate3

IFRS 1 (Revised)

First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards4

-F-10-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

3.ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL REPORTING STANDARDS - continued

 

IFRS 1 & IAS 27 (Amendments)

Cost of an Investment in a Subsidiary, Jointly Controlled Entity or Associate2

IFRS 2 (Amendment)  

Share-based Payment - Vesting Conditions and Cancellations23

IFRS 3 (Revised)  

Business Combinations34

IFRS 7 (Amendments)  Improving Disclosures about Financial Instruments3
IFRS 8  

Operating Segments23

IAS 39 & IFRIC 9 (Amendments)  
IFRIC 11

IFRS 2: Group and Treasury Share TransactionsEmbedded Derivative47

IFRIC 12

Service Concession Arrangements5

IFRIC 13  

Customer Loyalty Programmes65

IFRIC 1415  

IAS 19 - The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their InteractionAgreements for the Construction of Real Estate53

IFRIC 16  Hedges of a Net Investments in a Foreign Operation6
IFRIC 17Distributions of Non-Cash Assets to Owners4
IFRIC 18Transfers of Assets from Customers8

 

 

1

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2009, except the amendments to IFRS 5, effective for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, 2009

 

2

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2009, July 1, 2009 and January 1, 2010, as appropriate

3

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2009

 

34

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, 2009

 

4

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after March 1, 2007

5

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2008

6

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after July 1, 2008

On adoption
6

Effective for annual periods beginning on or after October 1, 2008

7

Effective for annual periods ending on or after June 30, 2009

8

Effective for transfers of assets from customers received on or after July 1, 2009

Among these new standards and interpretations, IAS 1(Revised) is expected to materially change the presentation of the Group’s financial statements. The amendments affect the presentation of owner changes in equity and introduce a statement of comprehensive income. The Group will have the option of presenting items of income and expenses and components of other comprehensive income either in a single statement of comprehensive income with subtotals, or in two separate statements (a separate income statement followed by a statement of comprehensive income). The amendment does not affect the financial position or results of the Group but will give rise to additional disclosures.

IFRS 8 will be effective for annual periods beginning on or after January 1, 2009,2009. The accounting policy for identifying segments will be based on internal management reporting information that is regularly reviewed by the Group’s chief operating decision maker for the purposes of allocating resources to the segments and assessing their performances. In the current year, segment results will be reportedare disclosed in accordance with the basis used for preparing management financial information. Currently, segment results are measured in accordance with the same accounting policies used to prepare the consolidated financial statements and includes items specified by IAS 14.

The adoption of IFRS 3 (revised)(Revised) may affect the accounting for business combination for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period beginning on or after July 1, 2009. IAS 27 (revised)(Revised) will affect the accounting treatment for changes in a parent’s ownership interest in a subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control, which will be accounted for as an equity transaction.

The directors considered that except for the abovementioned standards or interpretations, the application of other standards or interpretations will have no material impact to the Group’s financial statements.

LOGO

 

4.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for certain financial instruments, which are stated at fair value. The principal accounting policies are set out below.

Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and entities controlled by the Company (its subsidiaries). Control is achieved where the Company has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.

The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated income statement from the effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal, as appropriate.

Where necessary, adjustments are made to the financial statements of subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with those used by other members of the Group.

All intra-group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.

Minority interests in the net assets of consolidated subsidiaries are presented separately from the Group’s equity therein. Minority interests in the net assets consist of the amount of those interests at the date of the original business combination and the minority’s share of changes in equity since the date of the combination. Losses applicable to the minority in excess of the minority’s interest in the subsidiary’s equity are allocated against the interests of the Group except to the extent that the minority has a binding obligation and is able to make an additional investment to cover the losses.

-F-11-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

4.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

 

Business combination

The acquisition of business is accounted for using the purchase method. The cost of the acquisition is measured at the aggregate of the fair values, at the date of exchange, of assets given and liabilities incurred or assumed by the Group in exchange for control of the acquiree, plus any costs directly attributable to the business combination. The acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities are recognized at their fair values at the acquisition date.

Goodwill arising on acquisition is recognized as an asset and initially measured at cost, being the excess of the cost of the business combination over the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognized.recognised. If, after reassessment, the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities exceeds the cost of the business combination, the excess is recognized immediately in profit or loss.

The interest of minority shareholders in the acquiree is initially measured at the minority’s proportion of the net fair value of the assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognized.

Acquisition of additional interests in subsidiary

Goodwill arising on acquisition of additional interest in subsidiary represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the carrying value of the net assets attributable to the additional interest in the subsidiary.

Interests in associates

An associate is an entity over which the Group has significant influence and that is neither a subsidiary nor an interest in a joint venture.

The results and assets and liabilities of associates are incorporated in these consolidated financial statements using the equity method of accounting. Under the equity method, investments in associates are carried in the consolidated balance sheet at cost as adjusted for post-acquisition changes in the Group’s share of net assets of the associates, less any identified impairment loss. When the Group’s share of losses of an associate equals or exceeds its interest in that associate (which includes any long-term interests that, in substance, form part of the Group’s net investment in the associate), the Group discontinues recognizing its share of further losses. An additional share of losses is provided for and a liability is recognized only to the extent that the Group has incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments on behalf of that associate.

Any excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s share of the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the associate recognized at the date of acquisition is recognized as goodwill. The goodwill is included within the carrying amount of the investment and is assessed for impairment as part of the investment. Any excess of the Group’s share of the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities over the cost of acquisition, after reassessment, is recognized immediately in profit or loss.

Where a group entity transacts with an associate of the Group, profits and losses are eliminated to the extent of the Group’s interest in the relevant associate.

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4.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Revenue recognition

Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents amounts receivable for goods sold and services provided in the normal courses of business, net of discounts and sales related taxes.

-F-12-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

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4.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Revenue recognition - continued

Provided it is probable that the economic benefits will flow to the Group and the revenue and costs, if applicable, can be measured reliably, revenue is recognized in profit or loss as follows:

Sales of goods are recognized when goods are delivered and title has passed.

Service income is recognized when services are provided.

Interest income from a financial asset is accrued on a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and at the effective interest rate applicable, which is the rate that exactly discounts the estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the financial assets to that asset’s net carrying amount.

Dividend income from investments is recognized when the shareholders’ rights to receive payments have been established.

Mining rights

Mining rights are stated at cost less accumulated amortization and are amortized on a straight line basis over the shorter of their useful life estimated based on the total proven and probable reserves of the coal mine or contractual period from the date of commencement of commercial productionacquisition which approximates the date from which they are available for use.

Prepaid lease payments

Prepaid lease payments represent land use rights under operating lease arrangement and is expensed over the relevant lease term.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment, other than construction in progress and freehold land, are stated at cost less subsequent accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.

Depreciation is charged so as to write off the cost of items of property, plant and equipment, other than construction in progress and freehold land, over their estimated useful lives and after taking into account their estimated residual value, using the straight line method or units of production method.

Construction in progress represents property, plant and equipment under construction for production or for its own use purposes. Construction in progress is carried at cost less any impairment loss. Construction in progress is classified to the appropriate category of property, plant and equipment when completed and ready for intended use. Depreciation commences when the assets are ready for their intended use.

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4.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Property, plant and equipment - continued

Any gain or loss arising on the disposal of an item of property, plant and equipment is determined as the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and is recognized in the consolidated income statement.

Impairment other than goodwill

At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible assets and intangible assets with finite useful life to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset (determined at the higher of its fair value less costs to sell and its value in use) is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any).

-F-13-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

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4.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Impairment other than goodwill - continued

Intangible assets with an indefinite useful life will be tested for impairment annually.

If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. Impairment loss is recognized as an expense immediately.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but such that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognized for the asset (cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognized as an income immediately.

Goodwill

Goodwill arising on acquisitions prior to January 1, 2005

Goodwill arising on an acquisition of net assets and operations of another entity for which the agreement date is before January 1, 2005 represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s interest in the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities of the relevant acquiree at the date of acquisition.

For previously capitalized goodwill arising on acquisitions of net assets and operations of another entity after January 1, 2001, the Group has discontinued amortization from January 1, 2005 onwards, and such goodwill is tested for impairment annually, and whenever there is an indication that the cash-generating unit to which the goodwill relates may be impaired (see the accounting policy below).

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Goodwill - continued

Goodwill arising on acquisitions on or after January 1, 2005

Goodwill arising on an acquisition of a business for which the agreement date is on or after January 1, 2005 represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the Group’s interest in the fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the relevant business at the date of acquisition. Such goodwill is carried at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.

Goodwill is presented separately in the consolidated balance sheet.

For the purposes of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to each of the Group’s cash-generating units expected to benefit from the synergies of the acquisition. Cash-generating units to which goodwill has been allocated are tested for impairment annually, or more frequently when there is an indication that the unit may be impaired. If the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit is less than the carrying amount of the unit, the impairment loss is allocated to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the unit first and then to the other assets of the unit pro-rata on the basis of the carrying amount of each asset in the unit. Any impairment is recognized immediately in the consolidated income statement and is not subsequently reversed.

On disposal of the relevant cash-generating unit, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination of the gain or loss on disposal.

Inventories

Inventories of coal and methanol are stated at the lower of cost and net realizable value. Cost, which comprises direct materials and, where applicable, direct labor and overheads that have been incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location and condition, is calculated using the weighted average method. Net realizable value represents the estimated selling price less all further costs to completion and costs to be incurred in selling, marketing and distribution.

Inventories of auxiliary materials, spare parts and small tools expected to be used in production are stated at weighted average cost less allowance, if necessary, for obsolescence.

-F-14-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

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Taxation

Income tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from profit as reported in the consolidated income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

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Taxation - continued

Deferred tax is recognized on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognized for all taxable temporary differences, and deferred tax assets are recognized to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilized. Such assets and liabilities are not recognized if the temporary difference arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and associates, except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset realized.realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the consolidated income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis.

Research and development

Expenditure on research activities is recognized as an expense in the period in which it is incurred.

An internally-generated intangible asset arising from development expenditure is recognized only if it is anticipated that the development costs incurred on a clearly-defined project will be recovered through future commercial activity. The resultant asset is amortized on a straight line basis over its useful life.

Where no internally-generated Expenditure incurred on projects to develop new products is capitalized only when the Group can demonstrate the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset canso that it will be recognized, developmentavailable for use or sale, its intention to complete and its ability to use or sell the asset, how the asset will generate future economic benefits, the availability of recourses to complete the project and the ability to measure reliably the expenditure is recognized as an expense induring the period in which it is incurred.development.

No development expenditure has been deferred.

-F-15-deferred by the Company.


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

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4.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

 

Land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs

One consequence of coal mining is land subsidence caused by the resettlement of the land above the underground mining sites. Depending on the circumstances, the Group may relocate inhabitants from the land above the underground mining sites prior to mining those sites or the Group may compensate the inhabitants for losses or damages from land subsidence after the underground sites have been mined. The Group may also be required to make payments for restoration, rehabilitation or environmental protection of the land after the underground sites have been mined.

An estimate of such costs is recognized in the period in which the obligation is identified and is charged as an expense in proportion to the coal extracted. At each balance sheet date, the Group adjusts the estimated costs in accordance with the actual land subsidence status.

Borrowing costs

Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of qualifying assets, which are assets that necessarily take a substantial period of time to get ready for their intended use or sale, are capitalized as part of the cost of those assets. Investment income earned on the temporary investment of specific borrowings pending their expenditure on qualifying assets is deducted from the borrowing costs eligible for capitalization.

All other borrowings costs are recognized as expenses in the period in which they are incurred.

Foreign currencies

In preparing the financial statements of each individual group entity, transactions in currencies other than the functional currency of that entity (foreign currencies) are recorded in the respective functional currency (i.e. the currency of the primary environment in which the entity operates) at the rates of exchanges prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, monetary items denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet date. Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates prevailing on the date when the fair value was determined. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.

Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items, and on the translation of monetary items, are recognizedrecognised in profit or loss in the period in which they arise.

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4.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Foreign currencies - continued

For the purposes of presenting the consolidated financial statements, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s foreign operations are translated into the presentation currency of the Company (i.e. Renminbi) at the rate of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date, and their income and expenses are translated at the average exchange rates for the year, unless exchange rates fluctuate significantly during the period, in which case, the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of transactions are used. Exchange differences arising, if any, are recognized as a separate component of equity (the translation reserve). Such exchange differences are recognized in profit or loss in the period in which the foreign operation is disposed of.

Government grants

Government grants are recognized as income over the periods necessary to match them with the related costs. If the grants do not relate to any specific expendituresexpenditure incurred by the Group, they are reported separately as other income. If the grants subsidizesubsidise an expense incurred by the Group, they are deducted in reporting the related expense. Grants relating to depreciable assets are presented as a deduction from the cost of the relevant asset.

-F-16-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

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Retirement benefit costs

Payments to defined contribution retirement benefit plans are charged as expenses when the employees render the services entitling them to the contributions.

Financial instruments

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognized when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial assets and financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value. Transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition or issue of financial assets and financial liabilities (other than financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss) are added to or deducted from the fair value of the financial assets or financial liabilities, as appropriate, on initial recognition. Transaction costs directly attributable to the acquisition of financial assets or financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss are recognized immediately in profit or loss.

Financial assets

The Group’s financial assets are classified into loans and receivables and available-for-sale financial assets. All regular way purchases or sales of financial assets are recognized and derecognized on a trade date basis. Regular way purchases or sales are purchases or sales of financial assets that require delivery of assets within the time frame established by regulation or convention in the marketplace. The accounting policies adopted in respect of financial assets are set out below.

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4.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Financial instruments - continued

LoanLoans and receivables

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. LoanLoans and receivables (including bank balances and cash, term deposits, restricted cash, bills and accounts receivable, other loans receivable and other receivables) are initially measured at fair value and subsequently measured at amortized cost using the effective interest method, less any identified impairment loss.

Available-for-sale financial assets

Available-for-sale financial assets are non-derivatives that are either designated or not classified as financial assets at FVTPL,fair value through profit or loss, loans and receivables or held-to-maturity investments.

At each balance sheet date subsequent to initial recognition, available-for-sale financial assets are measured at fair value. Changes in fair value are recognized in equity, until the financial asset is disposed of or is determined to be impaired, at which time, the cumulative gain or loss previously recognized in equity is removed from equity and recognized in profit or loss (see accounting policy on impairment loss on financial assets below).

Available-for-sale equity investments that do not have a quoted market price in an active market and whose fair value cannot be reliably measured are measured at cost less any identified impairment losses at each balance sheet date subsequent to initial recognition (see accounting policy on impairment loss on financial assets below).

Impairment of financial assets

Financial assets are assessed for indicators of impairment at each balance sheet date. Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial asset, the estimated future cash flows of the financial assets have been impacted.

-F-17-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

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4.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Financial instruments - continued

Impairment of financial assets - continued

For an available-for sale equity investment, a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of that investment below its cost is considered to be objective evidence of impairment.

For all other financial assets, objective evidence of impairment could include:

 

significant financial difficulty of the issuer or counterparty; or

 

default or delinquency in interest or principal payments; or

 

it becoming probable that the borrower will enter bankruptcy or financial re-organization.re-organisation.

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Financial instruments - continued

Impairment of financial assets -continued

For certain categories of financial asset, such as trade and bills receivables, assets that are assessed not to be impaired individually are subsequently assessed for impairment on a collective basis. Objective evidence of impairment for a portfolio of receivables could include the Group’s past experience of collecting payments and changes in national or local economic conditions that correlate with default on receivables.

For financial assets carried at amortizedamortised cost, an impairment loss is recognized in profit or loss when there is objective evidence that the asset is impaired, and is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the original effective interest rate.

For financial assets carried at cost, the amount of the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the current market rate of return for a similar financial asset. Such impairment loss will not be reversed in subsequent periods.

The carrying amount of the financial asset is reduced by the impairment loss directly for all financial assets with the exception of trade and bills receivables and other receivables, where the carrying amounts are reduced through the use of an allowance account. Changes in the carrying amount of the allowance account are recognized in profit or loss. When a trade and bills receivables and other receivables are considered uncollectible, it is written off against the allowance account. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited to profit or loss.

For financial assets measured at amortizedamortised cost, if, in a subsequent period, the amount of impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment losses was recognized,recognised, the previously recognized impairment loss is reversed through profit or loss to the extent that the carrying amount of the asset at the date the impairment is reversed does not exceed what the amortized cost would have been had the impairment not been recognized.

Impairment losses on available-for-sale equity investments will not be reversed in profit or loss in subsequent periods. Any increase in fair value subsequent to impairment loss is recognized directly in equity.

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Financial instruments - continued

Financial liabilities and equity

Financial liabilities and equity instruments issued by the Group are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into and the definitions of a financial liability and an equity instrument.

An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the group after deducting all of its liabilities.

-F-18-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

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4.SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Financial instruments - continued

Financial liabilities

The Group’s financial liabilities including bills and accounts payable, other payables, amounts due to Parent Company and its subsidiary companies, bank borrowings are subsequently measured at amortized cost, using the effective interest method.

Equity instruments

Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

Derecognition

Financial assets are derecognizedderecognised when the rights to receive cash flows from the assets expire or, the financial assets are transferred and the Group has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the financial assets. On derecognition of a financial asset, the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the sum of the consideration received and receivable and the cumulative gain or loss that had been recognizedrecognised directly in equity is recognizedrecognised in profit or loss.

Financial liabilities are derecognized when the obligation specified in the relevant contract is discharged, cancelled or expires. The difference between the carrying amount of the financial liability derecognized and the consideration paid and payable is recognized in profit or loss.

Accounting for derivative financial instruments and hedging activities

Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured at their fair value. The method of recognising the resulting gain or loss depends on whether the derivative is designated as a hedging instrument, and if so, the nature of the item being hedged. The Group designates certain derivatives as either: (i) hedges of the fair value of recognised assets or liabilities (fair value hedge); and (ii) hedges of highly probable forecast transactions (cash flow hedge).

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Financial instruments - continued

The Group documents at the inception of the transaction the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged items, as well as its risk management objectives and strategy for undertaking various hedging transactions. The Group also documents its assessment, both at the inception of the hedge and on an ongoing basis, of whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values or cash flows of the hedged items.

The fair values of various derivative instruments used for hedging purposes are disclosed in note 34. The full fair value of a hedging derivative is classified as a non-current asset or liability when the remaining maturity of the hedged item is more than 12 months, and as a current asset or liability when the remaining maturity of the hedged item is less than 12 months.

(i)Fair value hedge

Changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as fair value hedges are recognised in the consolidated income statement, together with any changes in the fair value of the hedged asset or liability that are attributable to the hedged risk. To the extent that the derivative is not effective as a hedge, gains and losses are recognised in the consolidated income statement as gains or losses on derivative instruments.

(ii)Cash flow hedge

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges are recognised in equity. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognised immediately in the consolidated income statement. Amounts accumulated in equity are recognised in the consolidated incomes statement as the underlying hedged items are recognised.

When a hedging instrument expires or is sold, or when a hedge no longer meets the criteria for hedge accounting, any cumulative gain or loss existing in equity at that time remains in equity and is recognised when the forecast transaction is ultimately recognised in the consolidated income statement. When a forecast transaction is no longer expected to occur, the cumulative gain or loss that was reported in equity is immediately transferred to the consolidated income statement.

(iii)Derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting and those not designated as hedge

Changes in the fair value of any derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting and those not designated as hedges are recognised immediately in the consolidated income statement.

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5.KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY

In the application of the Group’s accounting policies, which are described in note 4, management is required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the directorscarrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the Company have maderevision and future periods if the following estimates that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognized in the financial statements:revision affects both current and future periods.

Depreciation

The cost of mining structures is depreciated using the units of production method based on the estimated production volume for which the structure was designed. The management exercises their judgment in estimating the useful lives of the depreciable assets and the production volume of the mine. The estimated coal production volumevolumes are updated at regular basis and have taken into account recent production and technical information about each mine. These changes are considered a change in estimate for accounting purposes and isare reflected on a prospective basis in related depreciation rates. Estimates of the production volume are inherently imprecise and represent only approximate amounts because of the subjective judgmentsjudgements involved in developing such information.

Mining rights

Mining rights are amortized on a straight line basis over the shorter of the contractual period and their useful lives. The useful lives are estimated based on the total proven and probable reserves of coal mine. The management exercises subjective judgmentsjudgements involved in developing information about the total proven and probable reserves of coal mine. Proved and probable coal reserve estimates are updated at regular basis and have taken into account of recent production and technical information about each mine.

-F-19-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

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Provision for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs

The cost of relocation of inhabitants from the land in preparation for mining activities is charged to consolidated income statement when incurred. The provision is reviewed regularly to verify that it properly reflects the remaining obligation arising from the current and past mining activities. Provision for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs are determined by the management based on their best estimates of the current and future costcosts, latest government policies and past experiences.

Impairment of goodwill

Determining whether goodwill is impaired requires an estimation of the value in use of the cash-generating units to which goodwill has been allocated. The value in use calculation requires the Group to estimate the future cash flows expected to arise from the cash-generating unit and a suitable discount rate in order to calculate the present value. As at December 31, 2008 and 2007, the carrying amount of goodwill is RMB298,650,000.

Cash flow projections during the budget period for each of the above units are based on the budgeted revenue and expected gross margins during the budget period and the raw materials price inflation during the budget period. Expected cash inflows/outflows have been determined based on past performance and management’s expectations for the market development.

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Estimated impairment of property, plant and equipment

When there is impairment indicator, the Group takes into consideration the estimation of future cash flows. The amount of the impairment loss is measured as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows. Where the actual future cash flows are less than expected, a material impairment loss may arise. In estimating the future cash flows, the management have taken into account the recent production and technical advancement. As prices and cost levels change from year to year, the estimate of the future cash flow also changes. Notwithstanding the management has used all the available information to make their impairment assessment, inherent uncertainuncertainty exists on conditions of the mine and of the environment and actual written off may be higher than the amount estimated. As at December 31, 2007,2008, the carrying amounts of property, plant and equipment is approximately RMB13,525,000,000.RMB14,149,446,000 (2007: RMB13,525,000,000). During the year ended December 31, 2007, RMB339,743,000 was written off as expenses.

 

6.SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Group is engaged primarily in the coal mining business. The Group is also engaged in the coal railway transportation business. The Company does not currently have direct export rights in the PRC and all of its export sales is made through China National Coal Industry Import and Export Corporation (“National Coal Corporation”), Minmetals Trading Co., Ltd. (“Minmetals Trading”) or Shanxi Coal Imp. & Exp. Group Corp. (“Shanxi Coal Corporation”). The final customer destination of the Company’s export sales is determined by the Company, National Coal Corporation, Minmetals Trading or Shanxi Coal Corporation. Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries are engaged in trading and processing of mining machinery and the transportation business via rivers and lakes in the PRC. No separate segment information about these businesses is presented in these financial statements as the underlying gross sales, results and assets of these businesses, which are currently included in the coal mining business segment, are insignificant to the Group. Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries are engaged in production of methanol and other chemical products, and invest in heat and electricity, are not consideredelectricity.

Gross revenue disclosed below is same as a reportable segment, as there is no external revenue generated. Accordingly, they are included as an unallocated reconciling item.

-F-20-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

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6.SEGMENT INFORMATION - continued

the turnover.

Business segments

For management purposes, the Group is currently organized into twothree operating divisions - divisions—coal mining, and coal railway transportation.transportation and methanol and electricity power. These divisions are the basis on which the Group reports its primary segment information.

Principal activities are as follows:

 

Coal mining

 - Underground mining, preparation and sales of coal

Coal railway transportation

 - Provision of railway transportation services
Methanol and electricity power- Production and sales of methanol and electricity power

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Business segments - continued

Segment information about these businesses is presented below:

INCOME STATEMENT

   For the year ended December 31, 2008
   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Methanol
and
electricity
power
  Unallocated  Eliminations  Consolidated
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

GROSS REVENUE

           

External

  24,557,521  247,199  98,361  —    —     24,903,081

Inter-segment

  131,655  88,458  —    —    (220,113 —  
                  

Total

  24,689,176  335,657  98,361  —    (220,113 24,903,081
                  

Inter-segment revenue is charged at prices pre-determined by the relevant governmental authority.

   For the year ended December 31, 2008 
   Coal
mining
  Coal railway
transportation
  Methanol
and
electricity
power
  Eliminations  Consolidated 
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

RESULT

        

Segment results

  9,678,304  (91,781 (185,116 —    9,401,407  
                

Unallocated corporate expenses

        (573,442

Unallocated corporate income

        142,990  

Share of loss of an associate

  —    —     (67,367 —    (67,367

Interest expenses

        (38,360
                

Profit before income taxes

        8,865,228  

Income taxes

        (2,385,617
                

Profit for the year

        6,479,611  
                

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Business segments - continued

BALANCE SHEET

   At December 31, 2008
   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Methanol
and
electricity
power
  Consolidated
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

ASSETS

        

Segment assets

  18,315,343  757,081  2,906,695  21,979,119
            

Interests in an associate

  —    —    830,195  830,195

Unallocated corporate assets

        9,529,317
            
        32,338,631
            

LIABILITIES

        

Segment liabilities

  2,264,820  46,008  1,215,524  3,526,352
            

Unallocated corporate liabilities

        1,995,669
            
        5,522,021
            

OTHER INFORMATION

   For the year ended December 31, 2008 
   Coal
mining
  Coal railway
transportation
  Methanol
and
electricity
power
  Unallocated  Corporate  Consolidated 
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

Capital additions

  1,925,294   29,234  925,084  —    2,105  2,881,717  

Amortization of mining rights

  35,652   —    —    —    —    35,652  

Release of prepaid lease payments

  9,379   5,372  358  —    —    15,109  

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

  1,009,365   79,912  49,159  —    2,373  1,140,809  

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

  (12,317 —    —    —    —    (12,317

Impairment losses reversed on accounts receivable and other receivables

  (4,369 —    —    —    —    (4,369
                   

LOGO

6.SEGMENT INFORMATION - continued

Business segments - continued

INCOME STATEMENT

 

   For the year ended December 31, 2007
   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated  Eliminations  Consolidated
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

GROSS REVENUE

         

External

  14,906,746  203,714  —    —     15,110,460

Inter-segment

  —    103,267  —    (103,267 —  
               

Total

  14,906,746  306,981  —    (103,267 15,110,460
               

Inter-segment revenue is charged at prices pre-determined by the relevant governmental authority.

 

  For the year ended December 31, 2007 
  Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
 Unallocated Eliminations  Consolidated   Coal
mining
  Coal railway
transportation
 Unallocated Eliminations  Consolidated 
  RMB’000  RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000  RMB’000   RMB’000  RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000  RMB’000 

RESULT

                

Segment results

  5,027,049  (78,653) (84,252) —    4,864,144   5,027,049  (78,653 (84,252 —    4,864,144  
                            

Unallocated corporate expenses

        (401,878)        (401,878

Unallocated corporate income

        110,707         110,707  

Share of loss of an associate

  —    —    —    —    (2,438)  —    —     —     —    (2,438

Interest expenses

        (27,222)        (27,222
          
                

Profit before income taxes

        4,543,313         4,543,313  

Income taxes

        (1,315,520)        (1,315,520
                          

Profit for the year

        3,227,793         3,227,793  
                          

-F-21-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

6.SEGMENT INFORMATION - continued

Business segments - continued

BALANCE SHEET

 

   At December 31, 2007
   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated  Consolidated
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

ASSETS

        

Segment assets

  14,164,314  910,867  3,186,981  18,262,162
           

Interests in an associate

        897,562

Unallocated corporate assets

        7,027,676
         
        26,187,400
         

LIABILITIES

        

Segment liabilities

  3,558,576  23,816  450,108  4,032,500
           

Unallocated corporate liabilities

        666,288
         
        4,698,788
         

OTHER INFORMATION
      At December 31, 2007 
      Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated  Consolidated 
      RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

ASSETS

         

Segment assets

   14,164,314  910,867  3,186,981  18,262,162  
            

Interests in an associate

         897,562  

Unallocated corporate assets

         7,027,676  
           
         26,187,400  
           

LIABILITIES

         

Segment liabilities

   3,558,576  23,816  450,108  4,032,500  
            

Unallocated corporate liabilities

         666,288  
           
         4,698,788  
           

 

OTHER INFORMATION

         
   For the year ended December 31, 2007 
   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated  Corporate  Consolidated 
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

Capital additions

  1,234,177   30,367  1,704,375  24,100  2,993,019  

Amortization of mining rights

  15,728   —    —    —    15,728  

Release of prepaid lease payments

  8,635   5,226  —    —    13,861  

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

  1,135,820   81,059  1,289  18,964  1,237,132  

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

  (25,002 —    —    —    (25,002

Impairment loss on property, plant and equipment

  339,743   —    —    —    339,743  

Impairment losses reversed on accounts receivable and other receivables

  (4,363 —    —    —    (4,363
                

   For the year ended December 31, 2007 
   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated  Corporate  Consolidated 
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

Capital additions

  1,234,177  30,367  1,704,375  24,100  2,993,019 

Amortization of mining rights

  15,728  —    —    —    15,728 

Release of prepaid lease payments

  8,635  5,226  —    —    13,861 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

  1,135,820  81,059  1,289  18,964  1,237,132 

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

  (25,002) —    —    —    (25,002)

Impairment loss on property, Plant and equipment

  339,743  —    —    —    339,743 

Impairment losses reversed on accounts receivable

  (4,363) —    —    —    (4,363)
                

-F-22-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

6.SEGMENT INFORMATION - continued

Business Segmentssegments - continued

INCOME STATEMENT

 

   For the year ended December 31, 2006
   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated  Eliminations  Consolidated
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

GROSS REVENUE

         

External

  12,783,567  160,399  —    —     12,943,966

Inter-segment

  —    206,770  —    (206,770 —  
               

Total

  12,783,567  367,169  —    (206,770 12,943,966
               

Inter-segment revenue is charged at prices pre-determined by the relevant governmental authority.

 

  For the year ended December 31, 2006 
  Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated Eliminations  Consolidated   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated Eliminations  Consolidated 
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 RMB’000  RMB’000   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 RMB’000  RMB’000 

RESULT

                  

Segment results

  4,141,517  8,664  (47,662) —    4,102,519   4,141,517  8,664  (47,662 —    4,102,519  
                            

Unallocated corporate expenses

         (461,760)         (461,760

Unallocated corporate income

         112,214          112,214  

Interest expenses

         (26,349)         (26,349
           
           

Profit before income taxes

         3,726,624          3,726,624  

Income taxes

         (1,354,656)         (1,354,656
                      

Profit for the year

         2,371,968          2,371,968  
                      

BALANCE SHEET

         
     At December 31, 2006 
     Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
 Unallocated  Consolidated 
     RMB’000  RMB’000 RMB’000  RMB’000 

ASSETS

         

Segment assets

    13,806,344  933,987  1,466,313  16,206,644 
             

Unallocated corporate assets

         7,252,105 
           
         23,458,749 
           

LIABILITIES

         

Segment liabilities

    2,834,062  20,368  214,607  3,069,037 
             

Unallocated corporate liabilities

         1,395,972 
           
         4,465,009 
           

-F-23-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

6.SEGMENT INFORMATION - continued

Business segments - continued

OTHER INFORMATION

   For the year ended December 31, 2006 
   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated  Corporate  Consolidated 
   RMB��000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

Capital additions

  3,015,080  19,827  1,160,045  104,454  4,299,406 

Amortization of mining rights

  12,069  —    —    —    12,069 

Release of prepaid lease payments

  8,344  5,188  294  —    13,826 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

  975,928  77,704  378  7,966  1,061,976 

loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

  72,929  115  —    487  73,531 

Impairment losses reversed on accounts receivable and other receivable

  (19,717) —    —    —    (19,717)
                
INCOME STATEMENT        
   For the year ended December 31, 2005 
   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated  Eliminations  Consolidated 
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

GROSS REVENUE

        

External

  12,283,588  163,437  —    —    12,447,025 

Inter-segment

  —    226,852  —    (226,852) —   
                

Total

  12,283,588  390,289  —    (226,852) 12,447,025 
                
Inter-segment revenue is charged at prices pre-determined by the relevant governmental authority. 
   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated  Eliminations  Consolidated 
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

RESULT

        

Segment results

  4,601,715  67,381  —    —    4,669,096 
              

Unallocated corporate expenses

        (320,692)

Unallocated corporate income

        96,180 

Interest expenses

        (24,611)
          

Profit before income taxes

        4,419,973 

Income taxes

        (1,538,036)
          

Profit for the year

        2,881,937 
          

-F-24-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

6.SEGMENT INFORMATION - continued

Business segments - continued

OTHER INFORMATION

 

   For the year ended December 31, 2005
   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated  Corporate  Consolidated
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Capital additions

  1,711,918  23,710  116,212  5,531  1,857,371

Release of prepaid lease payments

  7,983  5,188  —    —    13,171

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

  867,210  77,412  —    7,474  952,096

Amortization of mining rights

  6,624  —    —    —    6,624

(Gain) loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

  —    (13) —    540  527
               

Geographical segment
   For the year ended December 31, 2006 
   Coal mining  Coal railway
transportation
  Unallocated  Corporate  Consolidated 
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

Capital additions

  3,015,080   19,827  1,160,045  104,454  4,299,406  

Amortization of mining rights

  12,069   —    —    —    12,069  

Release of prepaid lease payments

  8,344   5,188  294  —    13,826  

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

  975,928   77,704  378  7,966  1,061,976  

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

  72,929   115  —    487  73,531  

Impairment losses reversed on accounts receivable and other receivables

  (19,717 —    —    —    (19,717
                

Geographical segment

 

The Group’s operations are primarily located in the PRC. In December 2004, the Group acquired certain subsidiaries located in Australia. Analysis of the Group’s gross sales and carrying amount of assets by geographical area is not presented in the consolidated financial statements as over 90% of the amounts involved are in the PRC.

 

The following is an analysis of the additions to property, plant and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets analyzed by the geographical area in which the assets are located:

  

    

   

         Additions to property, plant and equipment,
goodwill and intangible assets
 
         Year ended December 31, 
         2008  2007  2006 
         RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

The PRC

     2,784,223  2,818,358  3,582,427  

Australia

     97,494  174,661  716,979  
             
     2,881,717  2,993,019  4,299,406  
             

The Group’s operations are primarily located in the PRC. In December 2004, the Group acquired certain subsidiaries located in Australia. Analysis of the Group’s gross sales and carrying amount of assets by geographical area is not presented in the consolidated financial statements as over 90% of the amounts involved are in the PRC.

LOGO

The following is an analysis of the additions to property, plant and equipment, goodwill and intangible assets analyzed by the geographical area in which the assets are located:

   Additions to property, plant and Equipment,
goodwill and intangible assets
   Year ended December 31,
   2007  2006  2005
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

The PRC

    2,818,358    3,582,427    1,599,372

Australia

  174,661  716,979  257,999
         
  2,993,019  4,299,406  1,857,371
         

 

7.NET SALES OF COAL

 

  Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31,
  2007  2006  2005  2008  2007  2006
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Coal sold in the PRC, gross

  13,355,761  9,746,146  8,689,496  22,688,984  13,355,761  9,746,146

Less: Transportation costs

  280,694  358,414  268,034  356,517  280,694  358,414
                  

Coal sold in the PRC, net

  13,075,067  9,387,732  8,421,462  22,332,467  13,075,067  9,387,732
         
         

Coal sold outside the PRC, gross

  1,550,985  3,037,421  3,594,092  1,868,537  1,550,985  3,037,421

Less: Transportation costs

  269,122  578,205  662,069  152,195  269,122  578,205
                  

Coal sold outside the PRC, net

  1,281,863  2,459,216  2,932,023  1,716,342  1,281,863  2,459,216
         
         

Net sales of coal

  14,356,930  11,846,948  11,353,485  24,048,809  14,356,930  11,846,948
                  

Net sales of coal represent the invoiced value of coal sold and are net of returns, discounts, sales taxes and transportation costs if the invoiced value includes transportation costs to the customers.

 

-F-25-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

8.COST OF SALES AND SERVICE PROVIDED

 

  Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31,
  2007  2006  2005  2008  2007  2006
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Materials

  1,257,433  1,320,596  1,147,572      1,616,865      1,257,433      1,320,596

Wages and employee benefits

  2,392,447  1,646,018  1,258,333  2,624,821  2,392,447  1,646,018

Electricity

  377,686  336,284  282,492  346,401  377,686  336,284

Depreciation

  1,121,557  962,963  891,640  907,218  1,121,557  962,963

Land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs

  833,282  742,985  636,590  3,279,503  833,282  742,985

Repairs and maintenance

  441,511  327,151  350,953  —    441,511  327,151

Annual fee and amortization of mining rights (note 24)

  28,708  25,049  19,604  170,793  28,708  25,049

Transportation costs

  105,930  106,572  98,787  131,301  105,930  106,572

Cost of traded coal

  1,810,342  —    —  

Others

  773,370  722,451  602,617  929,545  773,370  722,451
                  
  7,331,924  6,190,069  5,288,588  11,816,789  7,331,924  6,190,069
                  

LOGO

 

9.SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

 

  Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31,
  2007  2006  2005  2008  2007  2006
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Wages and employee benefits

  1,093,732  1,001,783  794,537  1,374,698  1,093,732  1,001,783

Additional medical insurance

  22,896  57,364  46,458  53,068  22,896  57,364

Staff training costs

  38,735  44,037  32,553  24,412  38,735  44,037

Depreciation

  129,436  112,839  73,627  114,451  129,436  112,839

Distribution charges

  93,014  57,100  35,626  103,209  93,014  57,100

Resource compensation fees (note)

  117,772  107,502  117,228  159,938  117,772  107,502

Repairs and maintenance

  34,348  18,440  17,012  424,751  34,348  18,440

Research and development

  78,973  45,979  45,009  106,516  78,973  45,979

Freight charges

  29,305  20,741  19,256  20,247  29,305  20,741

Property, plant and equipment written off

  339,743  —    —    —    339,743  —  

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

  —    73,531  527  —    —    73,531

Legal and professional fees

  76,328  74,661  24,406

Social welfare insurance

  138,264  93,140  102,773

Utilities relating to administrative buildings

  147,737  109,269  109,204

Environmental protection

  48,028  26,700  26,700

Travelling, entertainment and promotion

  80,109  87,644  77,869

Foreign exchange loss

  328,858  3,150  12,346

Coal price adjustment fund

  264,815  105,421  —  

Bonus payments

  49,977  75,655  48,932

Others

  876,723  690,826  736,955  316,625  301,083  288,596
                  
  2,854,677  2,230,142  1,918,788  3,832,031  2,854,677  2,230,142
                  

 

Note:In accordance with the relevant regulations, the Group pays resource compensation fees (effectively a government levy) to the Ministry of Geology and Mineral Resources at the rate of 1% on the sales value of raw coal.

 

10.OTHER INCOME

 

  Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31,
  2007  2006  2005  2008  2007  2006
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Dividend income

  7,143  6,311  4,465  7,401  7,143  6,311

Gain on sales of auxiliary materials

  63,579  49,623  36,749  37,762  63,579  49,623

Government grants

  —    4,000  —    3,500  —    4,000

Interest income from bank deposits

  103,564  94,372  85,971  142,990  103,564  94,372

Interest income on loan receivable

  —    —    5,744

Interest income from entrusted loan (note 20)

  132,230  —    —  

Others

  24,644  11,531  2,109  27,610  24,644  11,531
                  
      198,930      165,837      135,038  351,493  198,930  165,837
                  

Included in dividend income above is income from listed investments of RMB7,401,000 (2007: RMB7,143,000 (2006: RMB5,581,000 and 2005: RMB4,465,000)2006: RMB5,581,000) and from unlisted investments of nil (2006: RMB730,000(2007: nil and 2005: nil)2006: RMB730,000).

-F-26-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

11.INTEREST EXPENSE

 

   Year ended December 31,
   2007  2006  2005
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Interest expenses on:

      

- bank borrowings wholly repayable within 5 years

  10,522  10,058  20,753

- bank borrowings not wholly repayable within 5 years

  14,200  2,281  —  

- bills receivable discounted without recourse

  —    10,840  —  

Deemed interest expenses in respect of acquisition of Jining III

  2,500  3,170  3,858
         
  27,222  26,349  24,611
         

12.INCOME TAXES

   Year ended December 31,
   2007  2006  2005
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Income taxes:

    

Current taxes, PRC Enterprise Income Tax

  1,484,195  1,309,783  1,372,398

(Over) underprovision in prior years

  (104,512) (24,233) 42,463
         
  1,379,683  1,285,550  1,414,861

Deferred tax charge (note 34)

    

Current year

  1,925  69,106  123,175

Attributable to a change in tax rate

  (66,088) —    —  
         
  1,315,520  1,354,656  1,538,036
         
     Year ended December 31, 
    2008  2007  2006 
    RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 
 

Interest expenses on:

    
 

- bank borrowings wholly repayable within 5 years

       20,537        10,522        10,058  
 

- bank borrowings not wholly repayable within 5 years

  15,899   14,200   2,281  
 

- bills receivable discounted without recourse

  75   —     10,840  
 

Deemed interest expenses in respect of acquisition of Jining III

  1,849   2,500   3,170  
           
   38,360   27,222   26,349  
           

 

12.     INCOME TAXES

    
     Year ended December 31, 
    2008  2007  2006 
    RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 
 

Income taxes:

    
 

Current taxes, PRC Enterprise Income Tax

  2,351,759   1,484,195   1,309,783  
 

Under(over) provision in prior years

  265,390   (104,512 (24,233
           
   2,617,149   1,379,683   1,285,550  
 

Deferred tax charge (note 35)

  (231,532 1,925   69,106  
 

Attributable to a change in tax rate

  —     (66,088 —    
           
   2,385,617   1,315,520   1,354,656  
           

The Company and its subsidiaries in the PRC are subject to a standard income tax rate of 33%25% on its taxable income.income (2007 & 2006: 33%).

Taxation arising in other jurisdictions is calculated at the rates prevailing in the relevant jurisdictions.

On 16 March 2007, the People’s Republic of China promulgated the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Enterprise Income Tax (the “New Law”) by Order No. 63 of the President of the People’s Republic of China. On 6 December 2007, the State Council of the PRC issued Implementation Regulations of the New Law. The New Law and Implementation Regulations will change the tax rate from 33% to 25% for the Company and subsidiaries established in the PRC from 1 January 2008. The deferred tax balance has been adjusted to reflect the tax rates that are expected to apply to the respective periods when the asset is realised or the liability is settled.

-F-27-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

12.INCOME TAXES - continued

 

The total charge for the year can be reconciled to the profit per the consolidated income statement as follows:

 

     Year ended December 31, 
     2007  2006  2005 
     RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 
 

Standard income tax rate in the PRC

  33% 33% 33%
 

Standard income tax rate applied to income before income taxes

  1,499,293  1,229,786  1,458,591 
 

Reconciling items:

    
 

Tax effect of future development fund deductible for tax purposes

  (67,449) (70,496) (68,618)
 

Deemed interest not deductible for tax purposes

  825  1,046  1,273 
 

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

  29,008  117,447  —   
 

(Reversal) provision of impairment loss on doubtful debts not subject to tax

  (1,439) (6,507) —   
 

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment not deductible for tax purposes

  —    —    836 
 

Deemed interest income from subsidiaries subject to tax

  17,402  9,456  —   
 

Tax effect of tax losses not recognized

  3,824  94,807  42,151 
 

(Over) underprovision in prior years

  (104,512) (24,233) 42,463 
 

Write off deferred tax asset

  —    —    44,436 
 

Decrease in opening deferred tax liability resulting from decrease in applicable tax rate

  (66,088) —    —   
 

Others

  4,656  3,350  16,904 
           
 

Income taxes

  1,315,520  1,354,656  1,538,036 
           
 

Effective income tax rate

  29% 36% 35%
           

13.

 PROFIT FOR THE YEAR    
     Year ended December 31, 
     2007  2006  2005 
     RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 
 

Profit for the year has been arrived at after charging:

    
 

Amortization of mining rights

  15,728  12,069  6,624 
 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

  1,237,132  1,061,976  952,096 
           
 

Total depreciation and amortization

  1,252,860  1,074,045  958,720 
           
 

Release of prepaid lease payments

  13,861  13,826  13,171 
 

Auditors’ remuneration

  14,683  10,406  9,229 
 

Staff costs, including directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments

  3,572,734  2,783,298  2,164,616 
 

Retirement benefit scheme contributions (included in staff costs above)

  720,091  641,633  523,324 
 

Cost of inventories

  7,145,614  6,089,185  5,144,888 
 

Exchange loss, net

  3,150  12,346  98,681 
 

and crediting:

    
 

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

  (25,002) —    —   
 

Reversal of impairment loss on accounts receivable and other receivables

  (4,363) (19,717) —   
           
   Year ended December 31, 
   2008  2007  2006 
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

Standard income tax rate in the PRC

  25 33 33

Standard income tax rate applied to income before income taxes

  2,216,307   1,499,293   1,229,786  

Reconciling items:

    

Tax effect of future development fund deductible for tax purposes

  —     (67,449 (70,496

Deemed interest not deductible for tax purposes

  462   825   1,046  

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

  (74,491 29,008   117,447  

(Reversal) provision of impairment loss on doubtful debts not subject to tax

  (11,398 (1,439 (6,507

Deemed interest income from subsidiaries subject to tax

  40,213   17,402   9,456  

Tax effect of tax losses not recognized

  28   3,824   94,807  

Under (over) provision in prior years

  265,390   (104,512 (24,233

Decrease in opening deferred tax liability resulting from decrease in applicable tax rate

  —     (66,088 —    

Utilization of unrecognized tax losses in prior years

  (51,600 —     —    

Others

  706   4,656   3,350  
          

Income taxes

  2,385,617   1,315,520   1,354,656  
          

Effective income tax rate

  27 29 36
          

 

13.PROFIT FOR THE YEAR

-F-28-

   Year ended December 31, 
   2008  2007  2006 
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

Profit for the year has been arrived at after charging:

    

Amortization of mining rights

  35,652   15,728   12,069  

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

  1,140,809   1,237,132   1,061,976  
          

Total depreciation and amortization

  1,176,461   1,252,860   1,074,045  
          

Release of prepaid lease payments

  15,109   13,861   13,826  

Auditors’ remuneration

  10,157   14,683   10,406  

Staff costs, including directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments

  4,358,556   3,572,734   2,783,298  

Retirement benefit scheme contributions (included in staff costs above)

  867,808   720,091   641,633  

Cost of inventories

  11,986,520   7,145,614   6,089,185  

Exchange loss, net

  328,858   3,150   12,346  

and crediting:

    

Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment

  (12,317 (25,002 —    

Reversal of impairment loss on accounts receivable and other receivables

  (4,369 (4,363 (19,717
          


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

14.DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ REMUNERATION AND FIVE HIGHEST PAID INDIVIDUALS

 

 (a)Directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments

Details of the directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments are as follows:

For the year ended December 31, 2007

   For the year ended December 31, 2008
   Fees  Salaries,
allowance and
other benefits

in kind
  Retirement
benefit
scheme
contribution
  Total
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Independent non-executive directors

        

Pu Hongjiu

  104  —    —    104

Cui Jianmin

  50  —    —    50

Wang Xiaojun

  60  —    —    60

Wang Quanxi

  50  —    —    50

Zhai Xigui

  54  —    —    54

Li Weian

  54  —    —    54

Wang Junyan

  54  —    —    54
            
  426  —    —    426
            

Executive directors

        

Wang Xin

  —    —    —    —  

Geng Jiahuai

  —    —    —    —  

Yang Deyu

  —    —    —    —  

Shi Xuerang

  —    —    —    —  

Chen Changchun

  —    —    —    —  

Wu Yuxiang

  —    192  38  230

Wang Xinkun

  —    218  44  262

Zhang Baocai

  —    191  38  229

Dong Yunqing

  —    192  38  230
            
  —    793  158  951
            

Supervisors

        

Meng Xianchang

  —    —    —    —  

Song Guo

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Shengdong

  —    —    —    —  

Liu Weixin

  —    —    —    —  

Zhou Shoucheng

  —    —    —    —  

Zhen Ailan

  —    —    —    —  

Wei Huanmin

  —    192  38  230

Xu Bentai

  —    207  41  248
            
  —    399  79  478
            

Other management team

        

Jin Tai

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Yingmin

  —    —    —    —  

He Ye

  —    —    —    —  

Tian Fengze

  —    192  38  230

Shi Chenzhong

  —    218  44  262

Qu Tianzhi

  —    218  44  262

Ni Xinghua

  —    218  44  262

Lai Cunliang

  —    508  102  610
            
  —    1,354  272  1,626
            

   Fees  Salaries,
allowance and
other benefits
in kind
  Retirement
benefit

scheme
contribution
  Total
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Independent non-executive directors

        

Pu Hongjiu

  96  —    —    96

Cui Jianmin

  96  —    —    96

Wang Xiaojun

  115  —    —    115

Wang Quanxi

  96  —    —    96
            
  403  —    —    403
            

Executive directors

        

Wang Xin

  —    —    —    —  

Geng Jiahuai

  —    —    —    —  

Yang Deyu

  —    —    —    —  

Shi Xuerang

  —    —    —    —  

Chen Changchun

  —    —    —    —  

Wu Yuxiang

  —    172  34  206

Wang Xinkun

  —    196  39  235

Zhang Baocai

  —    171  34  205

Dong Yunqing

  —    172  34  206
            
  —    711  141  852
            

Supervisors

        

Meng Xianchang

  —    —    —    —  

Song Guo

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Shengdong

  —    —    —    —  

Liu Weixin

  —    —    —    —  

Xu Bentai

  —    207  41  248
            
  —    207  41  248
            

Other management team

        

Jin Tai

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Yingmin

  —    —    —    —  

He Ye

  —    212  42  254

Tian fengze

  —    172  34  206

Shi Chenzhong

  —    195  39  234

Qu Tianzhi

  —    212  42  254

Ni Xinghua

  —    196  39  235

Lai Cunliang

  —    410  —    410
            
  —    1,397  196  1,593
            

-F-29-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

14.DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ REMUNERATION AND FIVE HIGHEST PAID INDIVIDUALS - continued

 

 (a)Directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments - continued

Details of the directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments are as follows:

For the year ended December 31, 2006

   For the year ended December 31, 2007
   Fees  Salaries,
allowance and
other benefits
in kind
  Retirement
benefit
scheme
contribution
  Total
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Independent non-executive directors

        

Pu Hongjiu

  96  —    —    96

Cui Jianmin

  96  —    —    96

Wang Xiaojun

  115  —    —    115

Wang Quanxi

  96  —    —    96
            
  403  —    —    403
            

Executive directors

        

Wang Xin

  —    —    —    —  

Geng Jiahuai

  —    —    —    —  

Yang Deyu

  —    —    —    —  

Shi Xuerang

  —    —    —    —  

Chen Changchun

  —    —    —    —  

Wu Yuxiang

  —    172  34  206

Wang Xinkun

  —    196  39  235

Zhang Baocai

  —    171  34  205

Dong Yunqing

  —    172  34  206
            
  —    711  141  852
            

Supervisors

        

Meng Xianchang

  —    —    —    —  

Song Guo

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Shengdong

  —    —    —    —  

Liu Weixin

  —    —    —    —  

Xu Bentai

  —    207  41  248
            
  —    207  41  248
            

Other management team

        

Jin Tai

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Yingmin

  —    —    —    —  

He Ye

  —    212  42  254

Tian Fengze

  —    172  34  206

Shi Chenzhong

  —    195  39  234

Qu Tianzhi

  —    212  42  254

Ni Xinghua

  —    196  39  235

Lai Cunliang

  —    410  —    410
            
  —    1,397  196  1,593
            

   Fees  Salaries,
allowance and
other benefits
in kind
  Retirement
benefit

scheme
contribution
  Total
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Independent non-executive directors

        

Pu Hongjiu

  89  —    —    89

Cui Jianmin

  89  —    —    89

Wang Xiaojun

  106  —    —    106

Wang Quanxi

  89  —    —    89
            
  373  —    —    373
            

Executive directors

        

Wang Xin

  —    —    —    —  

Geng Jiahuai

  —    —    —    —  

Yang Deyu

  —    —    —    —  

Shi Xuerang

  —    —    —    —  

Chen Changchun

  —    —    —    —  

Wu Yuxiang

  —    182  82  264

Wang Xinkun

  —    238  107  345

Chen Guangshui

  —    187  84  271

Zhang Baocai

  —    170  77  247

Dong Yunqing

  —    205  92  297
            
  —    982  442  1,424
            

Supervisors

        

Meng Xianchang

  —    —    —    —  

Song Guo

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Shengdong

  —    —    —    —  

Liu Weixin

  —    —    —    —  

Xu Bentai

  —    218  98  316
            
  —    218  98  316
            

Other management team

        

Jin Tai

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Yingmin

  —    —    —    —  

He Ye

  —    208  94  302

Tian fengze

  —    202  91  293

Shi Chenzhong

  —    229  103  332

Qu Tianzhi

  —    232  104  336

Ni Xinghua

  —    218  98  316

Lai Cunliang

  —    421  —    421
            
  —    1,510  490  2,000
            

-F-30-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

14.DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ REMUNERATION AND FIVE HIGHEST PAID INDIVIDUALS - continued

 

 (a)Directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments - continued

 

Details of the directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments are as follows:

For the year ended December 31, 20052006

 

  Fees  Salaries,
allowance and
other benefits
in kind
  Retirement
benefit

scheme
contribution
  Total  Fees  Salaries,
allowance and
other benefits
in kind
  Retirement
benefit
scheme
contribution
  Total
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Independent non-executive directors

                

Pu Hongjiu

  43  —    —    43  89  —    —    89

Cui Jianmin

  81  —    —    81  89  —    —    89

Wang Xiaojun

  98  —    —    98  106  —    —    106

Wang Quanxi

  81  —    —    81  89  —    —    89

Fan Weitang

  39  —    —    39
            
              373  —    —    373
  342  —    —    342            
            

Executive directors

                

Wang Xin

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —  

Geng Jiahuai

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —  

Yang Deyu

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —  

Shi Xuerang

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —  

Chen Changchun

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —  

Wu Yuxiang

  —    144  65  209  —    182  82  264

Wang Xinkun

  —    144  65  209  —    238  107  345

Chen Guangshui

  —    144  65  209  —    187  84  271

Zhang Baocai

  —    170  77  247

Dong Yunqing

  —    144  65  209  —    205  92  297
            
              —    982  442  1,424
  —    576  260  836            
            

Supervisors

                

Meng Xianchang

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —  

Song Guo

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —  

Zhang Sheng Dong

  —    —    —    —  

Liu Wei Xin

  —    —    —    —  

Zhang Shengdong

  —    —    —    —  

Liu Weixin

  —    —    —    —  

Xu Bentai

  —    160  72  232  —    218  98  316
            
              —    218  98  316
  —    160  72  232            
            

Other management team

                

Jin Tai

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —  

Zhang Yingmin

  —    —    —    —    —    —    —    —  

He Ye

  —    144  65  209  —    208  94  302

Tian fengze

  —    144  65  209

Tian Fengze

  —    202  91  293

Shi Chenzhong

  —    145  65  210  —    229  103  332

Qu Tianzhi

  —    232  104  336

Ni Xinghua

  —    218  98  316

Lai Cunliang

  —    190  86  276  —    421  —    421

Ni Xinghua

  —    144  65  209
                        
  —    767  346  1,113  —    1,510  490  2,000
                        

-F-31-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

14.DIRECTORS’ AND SUPERVISORS’ REMUNERATION AND FIVE HIGHEST PAID INDIVIDUALS - continued

 

 (a)Directors’ and supervisors’ emoluments - continued

 

No directors waived any emoluments in each of the year ended December 31, December2008, 2007 2006 and 2005.2006.

 

 (b)Employees’ emoluments

The five highest paid individuals in the Group included no director for the year ended December 31, 2007 (2006:2008 (2007: nil; 2005: one), details of whose emoluments are included in the disclosures in note 14(a) above.2006: nil). The emoluments of the five highest paid individuals for the year ended December 31, 2007 (2006:(2007: five; 2005: four)2006: five) were stated as follows:

 

   Year ended December 31,
   2007  2006  2005
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Salaries, allowance and other benefits in kind

  6,997  6,471  3,690

Retirement benefit scheme contributions

  630  582  365

Discretionary bonuses

  250  656  —  
         
  7,877  7,709  4,055
         

Their emoluments were within the following bands:

      
   2007  2006  2005
   No. of
employees
  No. of
employees
  No. of
employees

Nil to HK$1,000,000

  —    —    4

HK$1,000,001 to HK$1,500,000

  3  3  —  

HK$1,500,001 to HK$2,000,000

  2  1  —  

HK$2,000,001 to HK$2,500,000

  1  1  —  
         
   Year ended December 31,
   2008  2007  2006
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Salaries, allowance and other benefits in kind

  6,787  6,997  6,471

Retirement benefit scheme contributions

  611  630  582

Discretionary bonuses

  242  250  656
         
  7,640  7,877  7,709
         

Their emoluments were within the following bands:

   Year ended December 31,
   2008  2007  2006
   No. of
employees
  No. of
employees
  No. of
employees

Nil to HK$1,000,000

  —    —    —  

HK$1,000,001 to HK$1,500,000

  3  3  3

HK$1,500,001 to HK$2,000,000

  1  2  1

HK$2,000,001 to HK$2,500,000

  1  —    1
         

 

15.DIVIDEND RECOGNIZED AS DISTRIBUTION DURING THE YEAR

 

   Year ended December 31,
   2007  2006  2005
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

2006 Final dividend, RMB0.120 per share (2006: 2005 final dividend RMB0.150; 2005: 2004 final dividend RMB0.260)

  590,208  737,760  799,240

Special dividends approved, RMB0.080 per share (2006: RMB0.070; 2005: nil)

  393,472  344,288  —  
         
  983,680  1,082,048  799,240
         

   Year ended December 31,
   2008  2007  2006
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

2007 final dividend, RMB0.170 per share (2007: 2006 final dividend RMB0.120; 2006: 2005 final dividend RMB0.150)

  836,128  590,208  737,760

Special dividends approved, nil per share
(2007: RMB0.080; 2006: RMB0.070)

  —    393,472  344,288
         
  836,128  983,680  1,082,048
         

-F-32-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

15.DIVIDENDS RECOGNIZED AS DISTRIBUTION DURING THE YEAR - continued

 

In the annual general meeting held on June 28, 2005, a final dividend and a bonus issue to the shareholder through the capitalization of share premium of the Company on the basis of six shares for every ten existing shares in respect of the year ended December 31, 2004 were approved by the shareholders and paid and issued to the shareholders of the Company.

In the annual general meeting held on June 29, 2006, a final dividend and a special dividend in respect of the year ended December 31, 2005 was approved by the shareholders and paid to the shareholders of the Company.

In the annual general meeting held on June 15, 2007, a final dividend and a special dividend in respect of the year ended December 31, 2006 was approved by the shareholders and paid to the shareholders of the Company.

In the annual general meeting held on June 27, 2008, a final dividend in respect of the year ended December 31, 2007 was approved by the shareholders and paid to the shareholders of the Company.

The board of directors proposes to declare a final dividend of approximately RMB836,128,000RMB1,967,360,000 calculated based on a total number of 4,918,400,000 shares issued at RMB1 each, at RMB0.17RMB0.40 per share, in respect of the year ended December 31, 2007.2008. The declaration and payment of the final dividend needs to be approved by the shareholders of the Company by way of an ordinary resolution in accordance with the requirements of the Company’s Articles of Association. A shareholders’ general meeting will be held for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, approving this ordinary resolution.

 

16.EARNINGS PER SHARE AND PER ADS

The calculation of the earnings per share attributable to the equity holders of the Company for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 2006 and 20052006 is based on the profit attributable to the equity holders of the Company for the year of RMB6,488,908,000, RMB3,230,450,000 RMB2,372,985,000 and RMB2,881,461,000RMB2,372,985,000 and on the 4,918,400,000 shares in issue, during each of the three years.

The number of ordinary shares for the purpose of calculating basic earnings per share for all the period presented has been adjusted for the bonus issue of the Company on July 27, 2005.

The earnings per ADS have been calculated based on the profit for the relevant periods and on one ADS, being equivalent to 10 H shares. The equivalent H shares to one ADS have been changed from 50 to 10 H shares which hasfrom June 27, 2008. The new ADS were distributed to ADS holders on July 3, 2008. The comparative figures of 2007 and 2006 have been adjusted for the bonus issue of the Company on July 27, 2005.accordingly.

No diluted earning per share has been presented as there are no dilutive potential shares in issue during the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 2006 and 2005.2006.

LOGO

 

17.BANK BALANCES AND CASH/TERM DEPOSITS AND RESTRICTED CASH

Bank balances carry interest at market rates which ranged from 0.72%0.36% to 1.44% (2006:(2007: from 0.72% to 1.44%) per annum.

At the balance sheet dates, the short-term restricted cash, which carry interest at market rates of 0.72%0.05% per annum (2006:(2007: 0.72%), represents the bank deposits pledged to certain banks to secure banking facilities granted to the Group. The long-term amount represents the bank deposits placed as guarantee for the future payments of rehabilitation costs of Southland as required by the Australian government. The long-term deposits carry interest rate of 6.5% (2007:1.8% (2006: 5.31%) per annum.

The term deposits carry fixed interest rate of 1.35% to 2.52% (2007: 1.71% to 3.42% (2006:0.72% to 2.25%) per annum.

-F-33-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

 

18.BILLS AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE

 

  At December 31,   At December 31, 
  2007 2006   2008 2007 
  RMB’000 RMB’000   RMB’000 RMB’000 

Total bills receivable

  2,638,956  2,004,425   2,571,064   2,638,956  

Total accounts receivable

  135,525  238,931   435,711   135,525  
              
  2,774,481  2,243,356   3,006,775   2,774,481  

Less: Impairment loss

  (20,996) (31,447)  (29,509 (20,996
              

Total bills and accounts receivable, net

  2,753,485  2,211,909   2,977,266   2,753,485  
              

Bills receivable represents unconditional orders in writing issued by or negotiated from customers of the Group for completed sale orders which entitle the Group to collect a sum of money from banks or other parties. The bills are non-interest bearing and have a maturity of six months.

According to the credit rating of different customers, the Group allows a range of credit periods to its trade customers not exceeding 180 days.

The following is an aged analysis of bills and accounts receivable at the balance dates:

 

  At December 31,  At December 31,
  2007  2006  2008  2007
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

1 - 90 days

  1,490,661  1,429,048  1,759,526  1,490,661

91 - 180 days

  1,262,824  782,861  1,217,740  1,262,824
            
  2,753,485  2,211,909  2,977,266  2,753,485
            

LOGO

18.BILLS AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE - continued

Before accepting any new customer, the Group assessassesses the potential customer’s credit quality and defines credit limits by customer. Limits attributed to customers are reviewed once a year.

There are no significant trade receivablereceivables which are past due but not yet impaired on both balance sheet dates. The Group does not hold any collateral over these balances. The average age of these receivables is 65 days (2007: 61 days (2006: 65days)days). The management closely monitors the credit quality of accounts receivable and consider the balance that are neither past due nor impaired are of good credit quality.

The Group has provided fully for all receivables over 3 years because historical experience is such that receivables that are past due beyond 3 years are generally not recoverable. For receivable aged over 4 years and considered irrecoverable by the management will be written off.

An analysis of the impairment loss on bills and accounts receivable is as follows:

 

   2007  2006 
   RMB’000  RMB’000 

Balance at January 1

  31,447  126,700 

Written off

  (6,088) (78,603)

Reversal

  (4,363) (16,650)
       

Balance at December 31

  20,996  31,447 
       

-F-34-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

18.BILLS AND ACCOUNTS RECEIVABLE - continued

   2008  2007 
   RMB’000  RMB’000 

Balance at January 1

  20,996   31,447  

Provided for the year

  8,950   —    

Written off reversed (recognised)

  2,265   (6,088

Reversal

  (2,702 (4,363
       

Balance at December 31

  29,509   20,996  
       

Included in the allowance for doubtful debts is an allowance of RMB21RMB29.5 million (2006:(2007: RMB 31million)21 million) for individually impaired trade receivables, which are mainly due from corporate customers in the PRC and considered irrecoverable by the management after consideration on the credit quality of those individual customers, the ongoing relationship with the Group and the aging of these receivables. The impairment recognizedrecognised represents the difference between the carrying amount of these trade receivables and the present value of the amounts. The Group does not hold any collateral over these balances.

LOGO

 

19.INVENTORIES

 

  At December 31,  At December 31,
  2007  2006  2008  2007
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

COST

        

Methanol

  7,414  —  

Auxiliary materials, spare parts and small tools

  248,412  265,122  220,960  248,412

Coal products

  191,722  314,439  591,225  191,722
            
  440,134  579,561  819,599  440,134
            

 

20.OTHER LOANS RECEIVABLE

At the balance sheet dates,December 31, 2007, the amount representsrepresented a loan granted to an independent third party, which carriescarried interest at 7.00% per annum and iswas guaranteed by other independent third parties (the “Guarantor”).parties. The loan (the “Default Loan”) iswas secured by 170 million out of total 289 millioncertain state legal person shares of a company listed on the SSE (“the Secured Shares”) and certain equity interest in another unlisted company held by the Guarantor.guarantor. The Default Loan was defaulted in January 2005 and the Company had applied to theThe People’s Supreme Court of the Shandong provinceShangdong Province (the “Court”) to freeze the Secured Shares. The Company has also applied to the Court to dispose the Secured Shares by way of a public auction and the proceeds would be applied to repay the Default Loan and the associated interests to the Company. The public auction was held successfully in September 2005. The legal procedure for the transfer of ownership of the Secured Shares has not been executed.

In December 2006, Shandong Runhua Group Company Limited (“Shandong Runhua”) has also claimed for a portion of the Secured Shares. To protect the Company’s priority rights in the Secured Shares to recover the Default Loan, the Company sought support from the Shandong provincial government and the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administrative Committee (the “SASAC”). In January 2007, these government authorities in Shandong province and the SASAC have rendered formal written request to the Supreme Court to protect the Company’s priority right on the Secured Shares.

In October 2007, the Company, Shandong Runhua and the Guarantorguarantor reached an agreement in the presence of the Court. According to the settlement agreement, 240 million of the total 289 million Secured Shares held by the Guarantorguarantor should belong to Shandong Runhua and 200 million Secured Shares should be transferred to Shandong Runhua from the Guarantor.guarantor. At the same time, Shandong Runhua has agreed to assist the Guarantorguarantor to repay the principal and the associated interest of the Default Loan to the Company. The Company has the right to request for the disposal of the frozen 49 million Secured Shares owned by the Guarantorguarantor for the settlement if the Default Loan is not repaid by the Guarantorguarantor or Shandong Runhua after June 6, 2008 (the date the restriction on trading of the Secured Shares is removed). If the proceed received from the disposal of the 49 million Secured Shares would not be sufficient to cover the loan principal and interest of the Default Loan by that time, the Company has the right to request for the disposal of the remaining 40 million Secured Shares held under the Guarantorguarantor and not yet transferred to Shandong Runhua for settlement. If the disposal of the above mentioned 89 million Secured Shares would still not be sufficient for settlement up to RMB730 million,of the liability borne by the guarantor, the Company would have the right to further request for the disposal of the 200 million Secured Shares already transferred by the Guarantorguarantor to Shandong Runhua for full settlement up to RMB730 million.

-F-35-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

20.OTHER LOANS RECEIVABLE - continued

On May 26,of approximate RMB700 million (including the interest). By December 31, 2008, pursuant to the mediation arrangement of the Supreme Court of the People’s Republic of China as implemented by the Higher People’s Court of Shandong Province, the Company has agreedexecuted the saleSecured Share rights and collected principal of the 200RMB640 million Secured Shares by Shandong Runhua to finance the settlementplus interest after tax of the principal and interest of the Default Loan.RMB130 million (note 10).

On May 30, 2008 the Company received in total RMB780 million as a settlement of the principal and interest of the Default Loan.

LOGO

 

21.PREPAYMENTS AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

 

  At December 31,  At December 31,
  2007  2006  2008  2007
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Advances to suppliers

  35,728  109,714  94,796  35,728

Prepaid freight charges and related handling charges

  10,934  27,287  7,958  10,934

Deposit for environment protection

  200,000  —    200,000  200,000

Prepaid relocation costs of inhabitants

  1,151,895  —  

Others

  80,006  94,504  112,561  80,006
            
  326,668  231,505  1,567,210  326,668
            

Included in the above balances as of December 31, 20072008 is an impairment loss of RMB30,117,000 (2006: RMB32,650,000)RMB16,854,000 (2007: RMB30,117,000). During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Group wrote off impairment loss of RMB2,646,000, and reversed impairment loss of RMB 10,617,000. During the year ended December 31, 2007, the Group wrote off impairment loss of RMB2,533,000. During the year ended December 31,2006,31, 2006, the Group reservedreversed impairment loss of RMB3,067,000. During the year ended December 31, 2005, the Group did not make any additional impairment for doubtful debts.

The Group has provided fully for all receivables over 3 years because historical experience is such that receivables that are past due beyond 3 years are generally not recoverable. Receivable will be written off, if aged over 4 years and considered irrecoverable by the management after considering the credit quality of the individual party and the nature of the amount overdue.

 

22.PREPAID LEASE PAYMENTS

 

  At December 31,  At December 31,
  2007  2006  2008  2007
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Current portion

  13,976  13,746  15,296  13,976

Non-current portion

  576,412  578,988  628,119  576,412
            
  590,388  592,734  643,415  590,388
            

The amounts represent prepaid lease payments for land use rights which are situated in the PRC and have a term of fifty years from the date of grant of land use rights certificates.

-F-36-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

23.PREPAYMENT FOR RESOURCES COMPENSATION FEES

In accordance with the relevant regulations, the Shanxi Group is required to pay resources compensation fees to the Heshun Municipal Coal Industry Bureau at a rate of RMB2.70 per tonne of raw coal mined. During the year 2006, Shanxi Group was requested by the relevant government to prepay the fees based on production volume of 10 million tonnes. At the balance sheet date, the amount represented the prepayment for resources compensation fees not yet ultized.utilized. The current portion represents the amount to be utilized in the coming year which is estimated based on expected production volume.

 

24.MINING RIGHTS

 

   RMB’000

COST

  

At January 1, 2006

186,385

Exchange re-alignment

2,261

Acquisition of Shanxi Nenghua

164,452

At January 1, 2007

  353,098

Exchange re-alignment

  2,092

AdditionAcquisition of Shanxi Neng Hua

  61,923
   

At December 31, 2007 and at January 1, 2008

  417,113

Exchange re-alignment

(30,772

Acquisition of Zhaolou Coal mine

747,339

At December 31, 2008

1,133,680
  

AMORTIZATION

  

At January 1, 2006

33,120

Provided for the year

12,069

At January 1, 2007

  45,189

Exchange re-alignment

  184

Provided for the year

  15,728
   

At December 31, 2007 and at January 1, 2008

  61,101

Exchange re-alignment

(2,780

Provided for the year

35,652

At December 31, 2008

93,973
  

CARRYING VALUES

  

At December 31, 2008

1,039,707

At December 31, 2007

  356,012
  

At December 31, 2006

307,909
   

The addition of mining right of RMB747,339,000 during the year represented the consideration paid for Zhaolou coal mine acquired from the Parent Company.

LOGO

24.MINING RIGHTS - continued

In addition, the Parent Company and the Company have entered into a mining rights agreement pursuant to which the Company has agreed to pay to the Parent Company, effective from September 25, 1997, an annual fee of RMB12,980,000 as compensation for the Parent Company’s agreement to give up the mining rights associated with the Xinglongzhuang coal mine, Baodian coal mine, Nantun coal mine, Dongtan coal mine and Jining II. The annual fee is subject to change after a ten-year period, and the renegotiation has not yet started upperiod. Up to the date of this report.

these financial statements, compensation fee of RMB5 per tonne of raw coal mined amounting to RMB135,141,000 for the year ended December 31, 2008 has been preliminary agreed. The mining rightsrevised compensation fees are to be settled with governmental authority directly. The actual amount of compensation fee payable each year is still to be confirmed by the Shanxi Group are amortized, on a straight-line basis, over the remaining useful life of twenty-seven years from the date of acquisition. The mining right permit expires in January 2009 and can be renewed at a cost which is not significant to the Group as the Parent Company has undertaken to compensate the Group for 79.68% of such cost.governmental authority.

The other mining rights are amortized, on a straight-line basis, over the useful life of twenty to twenty eight years from the date of commencement of commercial production.

-F-37-acquisition.


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

25.PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

 

  Freehold
land in
Australia
  Buildings Harbor
works
and
crafts
  Railway
structures
  Mining
structures
 Plant,
machinery
and
equipment
 Transportation
equipment
 Construction
in progress
 Total  Freehold
land in
Australia
 Buildings Harbor
works
and
crafts
 Railway
structures
 Mining
structures
 Plant,
machinery
and
equipment
 Transportation
equipment
 Construction
in progress
 Total 
  RMB’000  RMB’000 RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000  RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 

COST

                      

At January 1, 2006

  53,031  2,169,992  250,231  729,789  3,904,460  8,190,653  302,956  890,881  16,491,993 

Exchange re-alignment

  2,224  280  —    —    —    7,803  22  6,958  17,287 

Acquisition of Shanxi Group

  —    95,347  —    —    129,366  186,107  25,723  192,433  628,976 

Additions

  —    15,725  —    —    15,378  257,147  2,139  3,073,042  3,363,431 

Transfers

  —    196,575  118  5,012  —    1,238,710  10,102  (1,450,517) —   

Disposals

  —    (47,600) —    —    (31,762) (878,537) (17,247) —    (975,146)
                            

At December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2007

  55,255  2,430,319  250,349  734,801  4,017,442  9,001,883  323,695  2,712,797  19,526,541 

At January 1, 2007

 55,255   2,430,319   250,349 734,801 4,017,442   9,001,883   323,695   2,712,797   19,526,541  

Exchange re-alignment

  2,056  337  —    —    —    27,435  21  12,840  42,689  2,056   337   —   —   —     27,435   21   12,840   42,689  

Additions

  —    2,100  —    —    —    71,014  8,641  2,846,275  2,928,030  —     2,100   —   —   —     71,014   8,641   2,846,275   2,928,030  

Transfers

  —    166,334  —    1,557  14,096  672,871  35,992  (890,850) —    —     166,334   —   1,557 14,096   672,871   35,992   (890,850 —    

Written off

  —    (18,999) —    —    (344,149) (219,261) (12,731) —    (595,140) —     (18,999 —   —   (344,149 (219,261 (12,731 —     (595,140

Disposals

  —    —    —    —    —    (6,461) (1,245) —    (7,706) —     —     —   —   —     (6,461 (1,245 —     (7,706
                                                     

At December 31, 2007

  57,311  2,580,091  250,349  736,358  3,687,389  9,547,481  354,373  4,681,062  21,894,414 

At December 31, 2007 and January 1, 2008

 57,311   2,580,091   250,349 736,358 3,687,389   9,547,481   354,373   4,681,062   21,894,414  

Exchange re-alignment

 (15,032 (3,066 —   —   —     (252,328 (303 (70,451 (341,180

Additions

 —     —     —   —   —     97,150   3,330   1,965,762   2,066,242  

Transfers

 —     429,580   5,456 132,609 11,184   1,145,823   24,270   (1,748,922 —    

Disposals

 —     (978 —   —   —     (45,996 (4,045 —     (51,019
                                                     

ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION AND IMPAIRMENT

             

At January 1, 2006

  —    1,019,552  12,136  215,969  1,592,922  4,158,969  173,959  —    7,173,507 

Exchange re-alignment

  —    18  —    —    —    293  6  —    317 

Provided for the year

  —    132,648  6,070  53,710  90,921  781,231  35,648  —    1,100,228 

Eliminated on disposals

  —    (41,411) —    —    (476) (828,954) (16,609) —    (887,450)

At December 31, 2008

 42,279   3,005,627   255,805 868,967 3,698,573   10,492,130   377,625   4,827,451   23,568,457  
                                                     

At December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2007

  —    1,110,807  18,206  269,679  1,683,367  4,111,539  193,004  —    7,386,602 

Accumulated depreciation and impairment

         

At January 1, 2007

 —     1,110,807   18,206 269,679 1,683,367   4,111,539   193,004   —     7,386,602  

Exchange re-alignment

  —    52  —    —    —    1,594  12  —    1,658  —     52   —   —   —     1,594   12   —     1,658  

Provided for the year

  —    123,617  6,071  53,442  85,162  931,748  38,032  —    1,238,072  —     123,617   6,071 53,442 85,162   931,748   38,032   —     1,238,072  

Eliminated on written off

  —    (9,112) —    —    (48,990) (186,987) (10,308) —    (255,397) —     (9,112 —   —   (48,990 (186,987 (10,308 —     (255,397

Eliminated on disposals

  —    —    —    —    —    (1,115) —    —    (1,115) —     —     —   —   —     (1,115 —     —     (1,115
                                                     

At December 31, 2007 and January 1, 2008

 —     1,225,364   24,277 323,121 1,719,539   4,856,779   220,740   —     8,369,820  

Exchange re-alignment

 —     (964 —   —   —     (47,147 —     —     (48,111

Provided for the year

 —     94,907   42,653 62,171 80,538   836,981   23,559   —     1,140,809  

Eliminated on disposals

 —     (387 —   —   —     (39,393 (3,727 —     (43,507
                         

At December 31, 2008

 —     1,318,920   66,930 385,292 1,800,077   5,607,220   240,572   —     9,419,011  
                         

CARRYING VALUES

         

At December 31, 2008

 42,279   1,686,707   188,875 483,675 1,898,496   4,884,910   137,053   4,827,451   14,149,446  
                         

At December 31, 2007

  —    1,225,364  24,277  323,121  1,719,539  4,856,779  220,740  —    8,369,820  57,311   1,354,727   226,072 413,237 1,967,850   4,690,702   133,633   4,681,062   13,524,594  
                                                     

CARRYING VALUES

             

At December 31, 2007

  57,311  1,354,727  226,072  413,237  1,967,850  4,690,702  133,633  4,681,062  13,524,594 
                            

At December 31, 2006

  55,255  1,319,512  232,143  465,122  2,334,075  4,890,344  130,691  2,712,797  12,139,939 
                            

The following estimated useful lives are used for the depreciation of property, plant and equipment, other than construction in progress:progress and freehold land:

 

Buildings

  15 to 3530 years

Harbor works and crafts

  40 years

Railway structures

  15 to 25 years

Plant, machinery and equipment

  5 to 15 years

Transportation equipment

  6 to 18 years

Transportation equipment includes vessels which are depreciated over the estimated useful lives of 18 years.

LOGO

25.PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT - continued

The mining structures include the main and auxiliary mine shafts and underground tunnels. Depreciation is provided to write off the cost of the mining structures using the units of production method based on the estimated production volume for which the structure was designed and the contractual period of the relevant mining rights.

During the year ended December 31, 2007, the directors conducted a review of the Group’s mining assets and determined that a number of those assets were impaired, due to physical damage and technical obsolescence. Accordingly, an aggregate amount of RMB339,743,000 have been written off in respect of buildings, mining structure, plant, machinery and equipment, and transportation equipment, which are used in the mining segment.

-F-38-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

26.GOODWILL

 

  2007  2006  2008  2007
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

COST

        

At January 1

  295,584  153,037  298,650  295,584

Acquisition of Shanxi Group (note 38)

  3,066  142,547

Acquisition of Shanxi Group

  —    3,066
            

At December 31

  298,650  295,584  298,650  298,650
            

Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated, at acquisition, to the cash generating units that are expected to benefit from that business combination. The carrying amount of goodwill had been allocated as follows:

 

  2007  2006  2008  2007
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Coal Mining

        

- Jining II

  10,106  10,106  10,106  10,106

- Shandong Yanmei Shipping Co., Ltd.

  10,046  10,046

- Shandong Yanmei Shipping Co., Ltd

  10,046  10,046

- Heze

  35,645  35,645  35,645  35,645

- Shanxi Group

  145,613  142,547  145,613  145,613

Coal Railway Transportation

        

- Railway Assets

  97,240  97,240  97,240  97,240
            
  298,650  295,584  298,650  298,650
            

The recoverable amounts of goodwill from each of the above cash generating units hashave been determined on the basis of value in use calculations. The recoverable amounts are based on certain similar key assumptions on discount rates, growth rates and expected changes in selling prices and direct cost. All value in use calculations use cash flow projections based on financial budgets approved by management covering a 5-year period, using a zero percent growth rate and with a discount rate of 8% (2007: 10% (2006: 8%).

The cashflowscash flows beyond the 5-year period are extrapolated for 5 years using a zero percent growth rate. Cash flow projections during the budget period for each of the above units are based on the budgeted revenue and expected gross margins during the budget period and the same raw materials price inflation during the budget period. Expected cash inflows/outflows, which include budgeted sales, gross margin and raw material price inflation have been determined based on past performance and management’s expectations for the market development. Management believes that any reasonably possible change in any of these assumptions would not cause the carrying amount of each of the above units to exceed the recoverable amount of each of the above units. During the years ended December 31, 20072008 and 2006,2007, management of the Group determined that there are no impairments of any of its CGUcash-generating units containing goodwill.

-F-39-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

27.INVESTMENTS IN SECURITIES

The investments in securities represent available-for-sale equity investments:

 

   At December 31,
   2007  2006
   RMB’000  RMB’000

Equity securities listed on the SSE

    

- Stated at fair value

  409,086  54,101

- Restricted portion stated at cost less impairment

  —    40,281

Unlisted equity security

  440  1,760
      
  409,526  96,142
      
   At December 31,
   2008  2007
   RMB’000  RMB’000

Equity securities listed on the SSE - Stated at fair value

  139,447  409,086

Unlisted equity security

  440  440
      
  139,887  409,526
      

Previously, the Group invested in certain state legal person shares of Shenergy Company Limited and Jiangsu Lian Yun Gang CompanyPort Corporation Limited. These shares were not tradable.

Pursuant to the share reform plan of Shenergy Company Limited carried out in 2006, the non-tradable legal person shares with the investment cost of RMB60,421,000 held by the Company were converted into tradable shares on August 17, 2006. Under this share reform plan, the Company has committed that the Company will not sell more than one-third of the shares held as of August 17, 2005 within one year after August 17, 2006; and two-third of the shares held as of August 17, 2005 within two years after August 17, 2006. This investment is presented as listed securities stated at fair value as at December 31, 20072008 at the amount of RMB393,124,000. As at December 31, 2006, the unrestricted portion of this investment was presented as listed securities stated at fair value at the amount of RMB54,101,000 and the restricted portion was presented as listed securities stated at cost less impairment at the amount of RMB40,281,000.RMB133,720,000 (2007: RMB393,124,000).

On April 26, 2007, Jiangsu Lian Yun Gang CompanyPort Corporation Limited becomebecame a public company with its shares listed in SSE. The Company has committed not to sell its holding, or transfer to others; or askingask others to held the shares on its behalf before April 28, 2008. This investment is presented as listed securities which amount to RMB15,962,000RMB5,727,000 as at December 31, 2007 and as unlisted2008 (2007: RMB15,962,000).

The investments in equity securities which amount to RMB1,760,000 as at December 31, 2006.

As of December 31, 2007,listed on the investment isSSE are carried at fair value determined by referenceaccording to bidthe quoted market prices quoted in an active markets. As of December 31, 2006, the restricted portion was stated at cost less impairment because the restricted selling period was long and the range of reasonable fair value estimates was so significant that the directors of the Company was of opinion that their fair value could not be measured reliably.market.

The unlisted equity securities are stated at cost less impairment at each balance sheet date because the range of reasonable fair value estimates is so significant that the directors of the Company are of the opinion that their fair value cannot be measured reliably.

-F-40-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

28.INTERESTS IN AN ASSOCIATE

 

At December 31, 2007
RMB’000

Cost of investment in an associate

900,000

Share of post-acquisition loss

(2,438)
897,562
   At December 31, 
   2008  2007 
   RMB’000  RMB’000 

Cost of investment in an associate

  900,000   900,000  

Share of post-acquisition loss

  (69,805 (2,438
       
  830,195   897,562  
       

In 2007, the Group made a cash investment of RMB900,000,000 for its 30% equity interest in an associate, Huadian Zouxian Power Generation Company Limited, which is established in the PRC and engaged in electricity generation business in the PRC.

Summarized financial information in respect of the Group’s associate is set out below:

 

At December 31, 2007
RMB’000

Total assets
   At December 31, 
   2008  2007 
   RMB’000  RMB’000 

Total assets

  7,623,355   7,623,027  

Total liabilities

  (4,856,038 (4,631,154
       

Net assets

  2,767,317   2,991,873  
       

Group’s share of net assets of associate

  830,195   897,562  
       
   Year ended December 31, 
   2008  2007 
   RMB’000  RMB’000 

Revenue

  3,650,661   321,802  
       

Loss for the year/ period

  (224,556 (8,127
       

Group’s share of loss of an associate

  (67,367 (2,438
       

LOGO

7,623,027

Total liabilities

(4,631,154)

Net assets

2,991,873

Group’s share of net assets of associate

897,562

At December 31, 2007
RMB’000

Revenue

321,802

Profit for the period

(8,127)

Group’s share of loss of an associate

(2,438)

 

29.DEPOSIT MADE ON INVESTMENT

During 2006, the Company entered into a co-operative agreement with two independent third parties to establish a company for the operation ofacquiring a coal mine to be acquired in Shanxi province.Shaanxi province for operations. The Company will have to invest approximately RMB196.8 million in order to obtain 41% equity interest. As at December 31, 2007,2008, the Company made a deposit of RMB118 million (2006: RMB97(2007: RMB118 million) in relation to this acquisition. As at December 31, 2007,2008, the relevant procedures to establish the new company are still in progress, and the establishment has not yet been completed.

 

-F-41-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

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30.BILLS AND ACCOUNTS PAYABLE

 

  At December 31,  At December 31,
  2007  2006  2008  2007
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Bills payable

  139,100  159,632  160,341  139,100

Accounts payable

  518,417  586,053  749,786  518,417
            
     657,517     745,685  910,127  657,517
            

The following is an aged analysis of bills and accounts payable at the reporting date:

 

  At December 31,  At December 31,
  2007  2006  2008  2007
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

1 - 90 days

  506,474  564,995  469,740  506,474

91 - 180 days

  —    —    177,404  —  

181 - 365 days

  126,048  139,974  132,576  126,048

1 - 2 years

  24,995  40,716  130,407  24,995
            
     657,517     745,685  910,127  657,517
            

The average credit period for accounts payable and bills payable is 90 days. The Group has financial risk management policies in place to ensure that all payables are within the credit timeframe.

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31.OTHER PAYABLES AND ACCRUED EXPENSES

 

   At December 31,
   2007  2006
   RMB’000  RMB’000

Customers’ deposits

  942,557  674,789

Accrued wages

  337,275  210,751

Other taxes payable

  218,723  205,720

Payables in respect of purchases of property, plant and equipment and construction materials

  615,092  442,536

Accrued freight charges

  93,456  15,963

Accrued repairs and maintenance

  19,493  20,162

Accrued utility expenses

  4,100  5,430

Staff welfare payable

  58,196  72,748

Withholding tax payable

  7,464  8,645

Deposits received from employees

  57,493  33,775

Consideration payable on acquisition of Southland

  —    28,755

Price regulating charges

  105,421  —  

Accrued land subsidence, restoration rehabilitation and environmental costs

  81,157  35,248

Others

  130,690  145,162
      
  2,671,117  1,899,684
      

-F-42-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

   At December 31,
   2008  2007
   RMB’000  RMB’000

Customers’ deposits

  757,631  942,557

Accrued wages

  435,450  337,275

Other taxes payable

  265,231  218,723

Payables in respect of purchases of property, plant and equipment and construction materials

  654,304  615,092

Accrued freight charges

  13,189  93,456

Accrued repairs and maintenance

  49,766  19,493

Accrued utility expenses

  —    4,100

Staff welfare payable

  77,873  58,196

Withholding tax payable

  466  7,464

Deposits received from employees

  68,969  57,493

Price regulating charges

  34,081  105,421

Accrued land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs

  59,871  81,157

Payable on compensation fee of mining rights

  135,141  —  

Others

  146,284  130,690
      
  2,698,256  2,671,117
      

 

32.(PROVISION) PREPAYMENT FOR LAND SUBSIDENCE, RESTORATION, REHABILITATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL COSTS

 

  2007 2006   2008 2007 
  RMB’000 RMB’000   RMB’000 RMB’000 

Balance at January 1

  212,912  157,511   (19,635 212,912  

Additional provision in the year

  (825,998) (731,796)  (3,369,696 (825,998

Utilization of provision

  593,451  787,197   2,938,352   593,451  
              

Balance at December 31

  (19,635) 212,912   (450,979 (19,635
              

The provision for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs has been determined by the directors based on their best estimates. The payment during the year ended December 31, 2006prepayment included mainly rehabilitation costs paid on mining areas in relation to mining activities in the future periods and therefore the balances are presented as prepayment at the balances sheet dates. However, in so far as the effect on the land and the environment from current mining activities becomes apparent in future periods, the estimate of the associated costs may be subject to change in the near term.

During the year, the provision for land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs increases mainly because the basis of calculating compensation increases and the land areas originally not subject to compensation in the past now require compensation due to the change of government policy.

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33.UNSECURED BANK BORROWINGS

The amounts are repayable as follows:

 

  At December 31,   At December 31, 
  2007 2006   2008 2007 
  RMB’000 RMB’000   RMB’000 RMB’000 

Within one year

  72,000  50,000   82,000   72,000  

More than one year, but not exceeding two years

  82,000  72,000   22,000   82,000  

More than two years, but not more than five years

  66,000  126,000   66,000   66,000  

More than five years

  110,000  132,000   88,000   110,000  
              
  330,000  380,000   258,000   330,000  

Less: Amounts due within one year and included in current liabilities

  (72,000) (50,000)  (82,000 (72,000
              

Amounts due after one year

  258,000  330,000   176,000   258,000  
              

The balances atas of December 31, 20072008 and 20062007 represent two borrowings obtained by Shanxi Tianchi before the Company acquired it. Included in the loans of RMB330,000,000 (2006: 380,000,000)RMB258,000,000 (2007: RMB330,000,000) is an amount of RMB110,000,000 (2006: RMB160,000,000)RMB60,000,000 (2007: RMB110,000,000) that carries interest at 5.31% (2007: 7.09% (2006: 5.85%) per annum and is subject to adjustment based on the interest rate stipulated by the People’s Bank of China (the “PBOC”). The loan is repayable by 3 installmentsinstalments over a period of 4 years, with the first installmentinstalment due in December 2007. The repayment is guaranteed by the Parent Company.

The remaining balance of RMB220,000,000 (2006:RMB198,000,000 (2007: RMB220,000,000) carries interest at 5.94% (2007: 6.84% (2006: 6.21%) per annum and is subject to adjustment based on the interest rate stipulated by the PBOC. The loan is repayable by 20 installmentsinstalments over a period of 12 years, with the first installmentinstalment due in May 2008. The amount is also guaranteed by the Parent Company.

-F-43-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

34.DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

   At December 31,
   2008  2007
   RMB’000  RMB’000

Derivatives used for hedging

    

Cash flow hedges – forward foreign exchange contracts

  29,435  —  
      

During the year ended December 31, 2008, the Group’s subsidiary in Australia entered into forward foreign exchange contracts to buy Australian Dollar against US Dollar with banks in order to manage the currency risks of foreign currency forecast sales. As at December 31, 2008, the outstanding notional amount was approximately RMB211 million, maturing through January to July 2009 with bought floor price and bought ceiling price of 0.6293 and 0.9568 respectively. The ineffective hedging portion of the changes in fair values of the forward foreign exchange contracts of approximately RMB10,445,000 is recognized as selling, general and administrative expenses in the consolidated income statement. The effective hedging portion was recognized as current portion of derivative financial instruments in the consolidated balance sheet.

The fair values of the forward foreign exchange contracts are estimated based on the discounted cash flows between the contract forward rate and spot forward rate.

35.DEFERRED TAXATION

 

  Available-for-sale
investment
 Accelerated
tax
depreciation
 Fair value
adjustment on
mining rights
 Tax losses  Total  Available-
for-sale
investment
 Accelerated
tax
depreciation
 Fair value
adjustment on
mining rights
 Temporary
differences on
expenses
recognized
 Tax
losses
 Cash
flow

hedge
reserve
 Total 
  RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 RMB’000 

Balance at January 1, 2006

  —    (146,279) —    —    (146,279)

Acquisition of Shanxi Group

  —    (2,962) (54,269) —    (57,231)

Charge to reserve

  (11,207) —    —    —    (11,207)

(Charge) credit to income for the year (note 12)

  —    (69,272) 166  —    (69,106)
                

Balance at December 31, 2006 and January 1, 2007

  (11,207) (218,513) (54,103) —    (283,823)

Balance at January 1, 2007

 (11,207 (218,513 (54,103 —   —     —   (283,823

Effect of change in tax rate

  2,717  52,972  13,116  —    68,805  2,717   52,972   13,116   —   —     —   68,805  

Charge to reserve

  (78,236) —    —    —    (78,236) (78,236 —     —     —   —     —   (78,236

(Charge) credit to income for the year (note 12)

  —    (34,613) 1,513  31,175  (1,925) —     (34,613 1,513   —   31,175   —   (1,925
                                   

Balance at December 31, 2007

  (86,726) (200,154) (39,474) 31,175  (295,179)

Balance at January 1, 2008

 (86,726 (200,154 (39,474 —   31,175   —   (295,179

Exchange re-alignment

 —     —     —     —   (8,347 —   (8,347

Charge to reserve

 67,409   —     —     —   —     8,831 76,240  

(Charge) Credit to the consolidated income statement (note 12)

 —     (39,192 1,513   225,125 44,086   —   231,532  
                                   

Balance at December 31, 2008

 (19,317 (239,346 (37,961 225,125 66,914   8,831 4,246  
                   

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35.DEFERRED TAXATION - continued

The temporary differences on expenses recognized mainly arose in respect of unpaid provision of salaries and wages, provisions of compensation fees for mining rights and land subsidence, restoration, rehabilitation and environmental costs.

The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances for financial reporting purposes:

 

  2007 2006   2008 2007 
  RMB’000 RMB’000   RMB’000 RMB’000 

Deferred tax assets

  31,175  —     46,023   31,175  

Deferred tax liabilities

  (326,354) (283,823)  (41,777 (326,354
              
  (295,179) (283,823)  4,246   (295,179
              

At the balance sheet date, the Group has unused tax losses of RMB 556RMB682 million (2006: RMB450(2007: RMB556 million) contributed by the subsidiaries available for offset against future profits. A deferred tax asset havehas been recognized in respect of RMB 104RMB223 million (2006: nil)(2007: RMB104 million) of such losses. No deferred tax asset has been recognized in respect of the remaining RMB 452459 million (2006: RMB450(2007: RMB452 million) due to the unpredictability of future profit streams. Included in unrecognized tax losses are losses of RMB55 million that will expire in 2011, losses of RMB106 million that will expire in 2012, and losses of RMB 106RMB298 million that will expire in 2012.2013 (2007: losses of RMB55 million that will expire in 2011 and losses of RMB106 million that will expire in 2012). Other losses may be carried forward indefinitely.

By reference to financial budgets, management believes that there will be sufficient future profits for the realization of deferred tax assets which have been recognized in respect of tax losses.

-F-44-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

35.36.SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY

Share capital

The Company’s share capital structure at the balance sheet date is as follows:

 

   Domestic invested shares  Foreign invested shares   
   State legal person
shares (held by the
Parent Company)
  A shares
(Note 1)
  H shares
(including H
shares represented
by ADS (Note 1))
  Total

Number of shares

       

At January 1, 2006

  2,672,000,000  288,000,000  1,958,400,000  4,918,400,000

Share Reform Plan

  (72,000,000) 72,000,000  —    —  
            

At January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007

  2,600,000,000  360,000,000  1,958,400,000  4,918,400,000
            
   Domestic invested shares  Foreign invested shares   
   State legal person
shares (held by the
Parent Company)
  A shares
(Note 1)
  H shares
(including H
shares represented
by ADS (Note 1))
  Total
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Registered, issued and fully paid

       

At January 1, 2006

  2,672,000  288,000  1,958,400  4,918,400

Share Reform Plan

  (72,000) 72,000  —    —  
            

At January 1, 2007 and December 31, 2007

  2,600,000  360,000  1,958,400  4,918,400
            
   Domestic invested shares  Foreign invested shares H shares
   State legal person
shares (held by the
Parent Company)
  A shares  (including H
shares represented
by ADS)
  Total

Number of shares

        

At January 1, 2007, January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008

  2,600,000,000  360,000,000  1,958,400,000  4,918,400,000
            
   Domestic invested shares  Foreign invested shares H shares
   State legal person
shares (held by the
Parent Company)
  A shares  (including H
shares represented
by ADS)
  Total
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Registered, issued and fully paid

        

At January 1, 2007, January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2008

  2,600,000  360,000  1,958,400  4,918,400
            

Each share has a par value of RMB1.

Pursuant to a meeting for the holders of A shares of the Company held on March 6, 2006, a share reform plan (“Share Reform Plan”) was approved by the relevant shareholders. Under the Share Reform Plan, 2.5 A shares for every existing 10 A shares would be offered by the Parent Company and the non-tradable legal person shares held by the Parent Company would then be converted to tradable shares in 4 years’ time according to a formula. The Share Reform Plan has been further approved by the Ministry of Commerce of the PRC on March 21, 2006. An aggregate of 72,000,000 state legal person shares of RMB 1 each held by the Parent Company is transferred as A shares pursuant to the Share Reform Plan.

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36.SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY - continued

Reserves

Future Development Fund

Pursuant to regulation in the PRC, the Company and certain of its subsidiaries in the PRC isShanxi Tianchi are required to transfer an annual amount to a future development fund at RMB6 per tonne of raw coal mined. The fund can only be used for the future development of the coal mining business and is not available for distribution to shareholders.

Shanxi Tianchi is required to transfer an additional amount at RMB15 per tonne of raw coal mined from 2008 onwards as coal mine transformation fund and mine areas environmental restoration fund.

Pursuant to the regulations of the Shandong Province Finance Bureau, State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of Shandong Province and the Shandong Province Coal Mining Industrial Bureau, the Company is required to transfer an additional amount at RMB5 per tonne of raw coal mined from July 1, 2004 to the futurereform specific development fund for the future improvement of the mining facilities and is not distributable to shareholders. No further transfer to the reform specific development fund is required from January 1, 2008.

In accordance with the regulations of the State Administration of Work Safety, the Group has a commitment to incur RMB8 for each tonne of raw coal mined from May 1, 2004 which will be used for enhancement of safety production environment and improvement of facilities (“Work Safety Cost”). In prior years, the work safety expenditures are recognized only when acquiring the fixed assets or incurring other work safety expenditures. The Company and Shanxi Tianchi make appropriation to the future development fund in respect of unutilized Work Safety Cost from 2008 onwards. The unutilized Work Safety Cost at December 31, 2007 was RMB187,470,000.

-F-45-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITEDStatutory Common Reserve Fund/ Statutory Common Welfare Fund

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35.SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY - continued

Pursuant to the relevant regulations from the Ministry of Finance, the Company and its subsidiaries in the PRC isare no longer required to set aside profit to the statutory common welfare fund effective from January 1, 2006 and the balance of statutory common welfare fund as at January 1, 2006 is transferred to statutory common reserve fund.

The Company and its subsidiaries in the PRC hashave to set aside 10% of its profit for the statutory common reserve fund (except where the fund has reached 50% of its registered capital). The statutory common reserve fund can be used for the following purposes:

 

to make good losses in previous years; or

 

to convert into capital, provided such conversion is approved by a resolution at a shareholders’ general meeting and the balance of the statutory common reserve fund does not fall below 25% of the registered capital.

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36.SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY - continued

Retained earnings

In accordance with the Company’s Articles of Association, the profit for the purpose of appropriation will be deemed to be the lesser of the amounts determined in accordance with (i) PRC accounting standards and regulations and (ii) IFRS or the accounting standards of the places in which its shares are listed.

The Company can also create a discretionary reserve in accordance with its Articles of Association or pursuant to resolutions which may be adopted at a meeting of shareholders.

The Company’s distributable reserve as at December 31, 20072008 is the retained earnings computed under the relevant accounting principles and regulations applicable to PRC enterprises (“PRC GAAP”)GAAP which amounted to approximately RMB 8,363,756,000RMB13,430,460,000 (At December 31, 2006: RMB 6,766,042,0002007: RMB8,625,550,000, as restated with the adoption of new accounting standards under PRC GAAP).

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36.37.CAPITAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as a going concern while maximizingmaximising the return to shareholders through the optimizationoptimisation of the debt and equity balance. The Group’s overall strategy remains unchanged from prior year.

The capital structure of the Group consists of debt, which includes the borrowings disclosed in note 33 and equity attributable to equity holders of the Company, comprising issued share capital, reserves and retained earnings.

The directors of the Company review the capital structure regularly. As part of this review, the directors of the Company assess the annual budget prepared by the accounting and treasury department and consider and evaluate the cost of capital and the risks associated with each class of capital. The Group will balance its overall capital structure through the payment of dividends, issue of new shares and new debts or the repayment of existing debts.

 

-F-46-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

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37.38.FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT

 

 37a.38a.Categories of financial instruments

 

  At December 31,
  2007  2006  2008  2007
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Financial assets

        

Loans and receivables (including cash and cash equivalents)

  9,453,042  8,974,474  12,980,405  9,453,042

Available-for-sale financial assets

  409,526  96,142  139,887  409,526

Financial liabilities

        

Amortized cost

  2,583,276  2,796,237

Amortised cost

  3,559,204  2,583,276

Derivative financial instruments

  29,435  —  
            

 

 37b.38b.Financial risk management objectives and policies

The Group’s major financial instruments include available for-salesavailable-for-sales equity instrument, bills and accounts receivable, other loan receivable, other receivables, bank balances and cash, term deposits, restricted cash, derivative financial instrument, bills and accounts payable, other payable, borrowings and amount due to Parent Company and its subsidiary companies. Details of these financial instruments are disclosed in respective notes. The risks associated with these financial instruments and the policies on how to mitigate these risks are set out below. The management manages and monitors these exposures to ensure appropriate measures are implemented on a timely and effective manner. There has been no significant change to the Group’s exposure to market risk or the manner in which it manages adand measures the risk.

LOGO

38.FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT (continued)

38b.Financial risk management objectives and policies (continued)

Credit risk

Credit risk refers to the risk that counterparty will default on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group.

At December 31, 2008 and 2007, the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk which will cause a financial loss to the Group is the failure to perform their obligations in relation to each class of recognized financial assets is the carrying amount of those assets as stated in the consolidated balance sheet.

In order to minimizeminimise the credit risk, the management of the Group has delegated a team responsible for determination of credit limits, credit approvals and other monitoring procedures to ensure that follow-up action is taken to recover overdue debts. In addition, the Group reviews the recoverable amount of each individual trade debt at each balance sheet date to ensure that adequate impairment losses are made for irrecoverable amounts. In this regard, the directors of the Company consider that the Group’s credit risk is significantly reduced.

The Group maintains its cash and cash equivalents with reputable banks. Therefore, the directors consider that the credit risk for such is minimal.

The Group generally grants the customers with long-relationship credit terms not exceeding 180 days, depending on the situations of the individual customers. For small to medium sized new customers, the Group generally requires them to pay for the products before delivery.

Most of the Group’s domestic sales are sales to electric power plants, metallurgical companies, construction material producers and railway companies. The Group generally has established long-term and stable relationships with these companies. The Group also sells its coal to provincial and city fuel trading companies.

-F-47-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

37.FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT

37b.Financial risk management objectives and policies - continued

Credit risk - continued

As the Group does not currently have direct export rights, all of its export sales must be made through National Coal Corporation, Shanxi Coal Corporation or Minmetals Trading. The quality,qualities, prices and final customer destinationdestinations of the Group’s export sales are determined by the Group, National Coal Corporation, Shanxi Coal Corporation or Minmetals Trading.

For the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 2006 and 2005,2006, net sales to the Group’s five largest domestic customers accounted for approximately 25.6%32.8%, 22.1%25.6% and 20.0%22.1%, respectively, of the Group’s total net sales. Net sales to the Group’s largest domestic customer accounted for 12.1%17.7%, 10.2%12.1% and 13.4%10.2% of the Group’s net sales for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 2006 and 2005,2006, respectively. The Group’s largest domestic customer was the Huadian Power International Corporation Limited (“Huadian”) for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 2006 and 2005.2006.

LOGO

38.FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - continued

38b.Financial risk management objectives and policies - continued

Credit risk - continued

Details of the amountsaccounts receivable from the five customers with the largest receivable balances at December 31, 20072008 and 20062007 are as follows:

 

   Percentage of
accounts receivable
At December 31,
 
   2007  2006 

Five largest receivable balances

  63.26% 63.47%
   Percentage of accounts receivable
At December 31,
 
   2008  2007 

Five largest receivable balances

  87.54 63.26

The management considers the strong financial background and good creditability of these customers, and there is no significant uncovered credit risk.

The table below shows the credit limit and balance of 5 major counterparties at the balance sheet date:

 

      31.12.2007  31.12.2006

Counterparty

  

Location

  Credit
limit
  Carrying
amount
  Credit
limit
  Carrying
amount
RMB’000     RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000   
          

Company A

  The PRC  40,000  32,773  30,000  26,075

Company B

  The PRC  40,000  31,664  30,000  16,857

Company C

  The PRC  20,000  13,645  —    —  

Company D

  The PRC  10,000  3,896  —    —  

Company E

  The PRC  10,000  3,756  —    —  

Company F

  The PRC  —    —    40,000  37,009

Company G

  The PRC  —    —    40,000  36,862

Company H

  The PRC  —    —    40,000  34,836
            
      85,734    151,639
            

-F-48-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

37.FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT

37b.Financial risk management objectives and policies - continued

Credit risk - continued

      31.12.2008  31.12.2007

Counterparty

  

Location

  Credit
limit
  Carrying
amount
  Credit
limit
  Carrying
amount
      RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Company A

  The PRC  300,000  207,232  —    —  

Company B

  The PRC  300,000  89,074  —    —  

Company C

  The PRC  50,000  38,226  10,000  3,756

Company D

  The PRC  24,000  23,769  10,000  3,896

Company E

  The PRC  30,000  23,115  —    —  

Company F

  The PRC  —    —    40,000  32,773

Company G

  The PRC  —    —    40,000  31,664

Company H

  The PRC  —    —    20,000  13,645
               
      381,416    85,734
               

As at December 31, 2007, the Group hashad exposure to credit risk in the event of the counterparties failure to perform their obligation in relation to the Default Loan (note 20). In order to minimize the credit risk, the management of the Group has monitoring procedures to ensure that follow-up action is taken to recover overdue debts. In addition, the Group reviews the recoverable amount of other loan receivables at each balance sheet date to ensure that adequate impairment losses are made for irrecoverable amounts. In this regard, the directors of the Company consider that the Group’s credit risk is significantly reduced.

The Group’s geographical concentration of credit risk is mainly in the PRC, which accounted for over 90% and 80% of the Group’s total trade receivable as at December 31, 2008 and 2007 and 2006.respectively.

LOGO

38.FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - continued

38b.Financial risk management objectives and policies - continued

Market risk

 

 (i)Currency risk

The Group’s sales are denominated mainly in the functional currency of the relevant group entity making the sale, whilst costs are mainly denominated in the group entity’s functional currency. Accordingly, there is no significant exposure to foreign currency risk.

The carrying amounts of the Group’s foreign currency denominated monetary assets and monetary liabilities in currencies other than the functional currencies of the relevant group entities at the balance sheet date are as follows:

 

  Liabilities  Assets  Liabilities  Assets
  2007  2006  2007  2006  2008  2007  2008  2007
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

United States Dollar (“USD”)

  2,250  1,354  663,713  834,511  4,447  2,250  910,764  663,713

Euros (“EUR”)

  47,338  13,932  34,018  76,563  —    47,338  15,718  34,018

Hong Kong Dollar (“HKD”)

  —    —    103,851  457,546  —    —    7,286  103,851

Sterling Pound (“GBP”)

  —    —    —    283

Notional amounts of USD foreign exchange contracts used for hedging

  210,800  —    —    —  
            

TheExcept as disclosed in note, the Group currently does not have a foreign currency hedging policy. However, the management monitors foreign exchange exposure and will consider hedging significant foreign currency exposure should the need arises.

Sensitivity analysis

The Group is mainly exposed to the fluctuation against the currency of United States Dollar and Hong Kong Dollar.

The following table details the Group’s sensitivity to a 5% increase and decrease in RMB against relevant foreign currencies. The sensitivity analysis includes only outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items and adjusts their translation at the year end for a 5% change in foreign currency rates. The sensitivity analysis includes loans to foreign operations within the Group where the denomination of the loan is in a currency other than the functional currency of the lender or the borrower.

-F-49-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

37.38.FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - continued

 

 37b.38b.Financial risk management objectives and policies - continued

Market risk - continued

 

 (i)Currency risk - continued

 

   USD Impact (note i)  HKD Impact (note i ) 
   2007  2006  2007  2006 
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

Increase (Decrease) to profit and loss

     

- if RMB weakens against Respective foreign currency

  62,804  73,140  4,945  21,788 

- if RMB strengthens against Respective foreign currency

  (62,804) (73,140) (4,945) (21,788)
             

 

   USD Impact (note ii) 
   2007  2006 
   RMB’000  RMB’000 

Increase (Decrease) to profit and loss

   

- if AUD weakens against Respective foreign currency

  (31,305) (33,466)

- if AUD strengthens against Respective foreign currency

  31,305  33,466 
       
   USD Impact (note i)  HKD Impact (note i ) 
   2008  2007  2008  2007 
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

Increase (Decrease) to profit and loss

     

- if RMB weakens against
respective foreign currency

  58,863   62,804   273   4,945  

- if RMB strengthens against
respective foreign currency

  (58,863 (62,804 (273 (4,945
             

   USD Impact (note ii) 
   2008  2007 
   RMB’000  RMB’000 

Increase (Decrease) to profit and loss

   

- if AUD weakens against
respective foreign currency

  (21,584 (31,305

- if AUD strengthens against
respective foreign currency

  21,584   31,305  

Increase (Decrease) to shareholders’ equity

   

- if AUD weakens against
respective foreign currency

  (21,144 (31,305

- if AUD strengthens against
respective foreign currency

  21,144   31,305  
       

Notes:

 

 (i)This is mainly attributable to the exposure outstanding on the bank deposit and loans to foreign operations within the Group of USD and HKD at year end in the Group.

 (ii)This is mainly attributable to the exposure outstanding on the loans to foreign operations within the Group and derivative financial instruments where the denomination of the loan is in a currency other than the functionfunctional currency of the borrower (i.e. AUD).

In management’s opinion, the sensitivity analysis is unrepresentative of the inherent foreign exchange risk as the year end exposure does not reflect the exposure during the year.

LOGO

38.FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - continued

38b.Financial risk management objectives and policies - continued

Market risk - continued

 

 (ii)Interest rate risk

The Group is exposed to fair value interest rate risk in relation to fixed–rate loan receivable (see note 20 for details). The Group is also exposed to cash flow interest rate risk in relation to variable-rate bank balances, term deposits, restricted cash (see note 17 for details of these bank balances) and bank borrowings (see note 33 for details of these borrowings).

The Group currently does not have any interest rate hedging policy.

-F-50-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

37.FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - continued

37b.Financial risk management objectives and policies - continued

Market risk - continued

(ii)Interest rate risk - continued

The Group’s exposures to interest rates on financial assets and financial liabilities are detailed in the liquidity risk management section of this note. The Group’s cash flow interest rate risk is mainly concentrateconcentrated on the fluctuation of the PBOC arising from the Group’s RMB borrowings.

The Group’s exposure to interest rate risk on financial assets and liabilities and also the result of the sensitivity analysis is not significant.

 

 (iii)Other price risk

In addition to the above risks relating to financial instruments, the Group is exposed to equity price risk through investment in listed equity securities. The Group currently does not have any arrangement to hedge the price risk exposure of its investment in equity securities. The Group’s exposure to equity price risk through investment in listed equity securities and also the result of the sensitivity analysis is not significant.

LOGO

38.FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - continued

38b.Financial risk management objectives and policies - continued

Liquidity risk

In the management of the liquidity risk, the Group monitors and maintains a level of cash and cash equivalents deemed adequate by the management to finance the Group’s operations and mitigate the effects of fluctuations in cash flows. The management monitors the utilizationutilisation of bank borrowings and ensures compliance with loan covenants.

The following table details the Group’s remaining contractual maturity for its financial liabilities. For non-derivative financial liabilities, the table has been drawn up based on the undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which the Group can be required to pay. The table includes both interest and principal cash flows.

-F-51-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITEDLiquidity and interest risk tables

LOGO

  Weighted
average
effective
interest rate
  Less than
3 months
  3-6 months  6 months
to 1 year
  1-5 years  5+ years Total
undiscounted

cash flow
  Carrying
amount at
12.31
 
  %  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 RMB’000  RMB’000 

2008

         

Non-derivative financial liabilities

         

Bills and accounts payables

 N/A   910,127   —     —     —    —   910,127   910,127  

Other payables

 N/A   1,677,496   —     —     —    —   1,677,496   1,677,496  

Amount due to Parent Company and its subsidiary companies

 N/A   706,328   —     —     13,248  —   719,576   713,581  

Bank borrowings

         

- variable rate

 5.31% - 5.94%   —     11,254   74,739   104,625  125,839 316,457   258,000  
                       
  3,293,951   11,254   74,739   117,873  125,839 3,623,656   3,559,204  
                       

Derivative financial instruments – gross settlement

         

Forward foreign exchange contracts

         

- Inflow

 N/A   129,200   71,400   10,200   —    —   210,800   210,800  

- Outflow

 N/A   (129,200 (71,400 (10,200 —    —   (210,800 (210,800
                       
  —     —     —     —    —   —     —    
                       

2007

         

Non-derivative financial liabilities

         

Bills and accounts payables

 N/A   631,207   26,310   —     —    —   657,517   657,517  

Other payables

 N/A   911,528   —     —     —    —   911,528   911,528  

Amount due to Parent Company and its subsidiary companies

 N/A   669,275   —     —     26,496  —   695,771   684,231  

Bank borrowings

         

- variable rate

 6.84% - 7.09 —     11,325   65,135   175,968  169,799 422,227   330,000  
                       
  2,212,010   37,635   65,135   202,464  169,799 2,687,043   2,583,276  
                       

LOGO

 

37.38.FINANCIAL INSTRUMENT - continued

 

 37b.Financial risk management objectives and policies - continued

Liquidity and interest risk tables

   Weighted
average effective
interest rate
  Less than
3 months
  3-6
months
  6 months
to 1 year
  1-5 years  5+ years  Total
undiscounted
cashflow
  Carrying
amount

at
12.31.2007
   %  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

2007

                

Non-derivative financial liabilities

                

Bills and accounts payables

  N/A  631,207  26,310  —    —    —    657,517  657,517

Other payables

  N/A  911,528  —    —    —    —    911,528  911,528

Amount due to Parent Company and its subsidies company

  N/A  669,275  —    —    26,496  —    695,771  684,231

Bank borrowings - variable rate

  6.84% - 7.09%  —    11,325  65,135  175,968  169,799  422,227  330,000
                       
    2,212,010  37,635  65,135  202,464  169,799  2,687,043  2,583,276
                       

2006

                

Non-derivative financial liabilities

                

Bills and accounts payables

  N/A  674,213  71,472  —      —    745,685  745,685

Other payables

  N/A  665,067  —    —    —    —    665,067  665,067

Amount due to Parent Company and its subsidies company

  N/A  982,347  —    —    39,744  —    1,022,091  1,005,485

Bank borrowings - variable rate

  5.85% - 6.12%  —    —    53,060  231,438  195,063  479,561  380,000
                       
    2,321,627  71,472  53,060  271,182  195,063  2,912,404  2,796,237
                       

37c.38c.Fair values

The fair value of available-for-sales investment areis determined with reference to quoted market price. The fair values of the forward foreign exchange contracts are estimated based on the discounted cash flows between the contract forward rate and spot forward rate. The fair value of other financial assets and financial liabilities are determined in accordance with generally accepted pricing models based on discounted cash flow analysis.

The directors consider that the carrying amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities recorded at amortizedamortised cost in the consolidated financial statements approximate their fair values.

LOGO

 

38.39.ACQUISITION OF SHANXI NENG HUA COMPANY LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES

On August 18, 2006, the Company entered into an equity transfer agreement with the Parent Company and conditionally agreed to purchase the 98% equity interest in Shanxi NenghuaNeng Hua from the Parent Company. In November 2006, the acquisition was completed and the consideration of RMB733,346,000 was fully paid to the Parent Company. The net assets acquired were included in the coal mining segment.

In 2007, the Company further acquired the remaining 2% equity interest in Shanxi NenghuaNeng Hua from a subsidiary of the Parent Company at cash consideration of RMB14,965,000 which give rise to additional goodwill of RMB3,066,000.

-F-52-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

38.ACQUISITION OF SHANXI NENG HUA COMPANY LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES - continued

This acquisition has been accounted for using the purchase method.

The net assets of Shanxi Group acquired in 2006, and the goodwill arising, are as follows:

 

   Acquiree’s
carrying
amount before
combination
  Fair
value
adjustments
  Fair
value
 
   RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000 

Bank balances and cash

  289,142    289,142  

Bills and accounts receivable

  10,950    10,950  

Inventories

  4,609    4,609  

Prepayment for resources compensation fees

  25,387    25,387  

Prepayments and other currents assets

  15,216    15,216  

Property, plant and equipment

  628,976    628,976  

Mining rights

  —     164,452   164,452  

Deferred tax liability

  (2,962 (54,269 (57,231

Prepaid lease payments

  11,378    11,378  

Accounts payable

  (12,126  (12,126

Other payables and accrued expenses

  (75,436  (75,436

Bank borrowings

  (380,000  (380,000
        

Total net assets acquired

  515,134    625,317  

Minority interests

    (34,518

Goodwill arising on acquisition

    142,547  
      
    733,346  
      

Total consideration satisfied by:

    

Cash consideration paid on acquisition

    733,346  
      

Net cash outflow arising on acquisition:

    

Cash paid on acquisition

    (733,346

Bank balances and cash acquired

    289,142  
      
    (444,204
      

Shanxi Group contributed RMB21,875,000 and RMB8,755,000 to the Group’s turnover and loss respectively, for the period between the date of acquisition to December 31, 2006.

LOGO

39.ACQUISITION OF SHANXI NENG HUA COMPANY LIMITED AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES - continued

If the acquisition had been completed on January 1, 2006, the Group’s revenue for the period would have been RMB12,961,204,000, and the Group’s profit for the year would have been RMB2,274,162,000. The pro forma information is for illustrative purposes only and is not necessarily an indication of revenue and results of operations of the Group that actually would have been achieved had the acquisition been completed on January 1, 2006, nor is it intended to be a projection of future results.

The goodwill arising from the acquisition is attributable to the anticipated profitability and the anticipated future operating synergies from the combination.

 

-F-53-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

39.ACQUISITION OF HEZE

The net assets of Heze acquired in 2005, and the goodwill arising, are as follows:

Carrying
value and
fair value
RMB’000

Bank balances and cash

180,255

Prepayments and other current assets

1,150

Property, plant and equipment

507,596

Other payables and accrued expenses

(86,061)

Amounts due to Parent Company and its subsidiary companies

(29,759)

Minority interest

(24,818)

Total net assets acquired

548,363

Goodwill arising on acquisition

35,645
584,008

Total consideration satisfied by:

Deposit made on investment in 2004

574,000

Cash consideration paid on acquisition

10,008
584,008

Net cash outflow arising on acquisition:

Cash paid on acquisition

(10,008)

Bank balances and cash acquired

180,255
170,247

Heze did not contribute significantly to the Group’s turnover and profit for the year ended December 31, 2005.

If the acquisition had been completed on January 1, 2005, the Group’s revenue and the Group’s profit for the year ended December 31, 2005 would have been RMB12,447,025,000 and RMB2,864,866,000, respectively.

On November 16, 2004, the Company entered into an equity transfer agreement (“Acquisition Agreement”) with the Parent Company and conditionally agreed to purchase the 95.67% equity interest in Heze held by the Parent Company. As at December 31, 2005, a deposit of RMB574,000,000 was paid to the Parent Company.

On June 28, 2005, a supplemental agreement (the “Supplemental Agreement”) was entered into between the Company and the Parent Company. Under the Supplemental Agreement, the Parent Company provided an irrevocable undertaking that the Group shall have the right to purchase the mining rights of Zhaolou coal mine and Wanfu coal mine from the Parent Company within twelve months from the respective dates on which such mining rights are obtained by the Parent Company. In June 2006, the Parent Company has obtained the mining rights of Zhaolou coal mine. At December 31, 2007, the Company has not yet finished the purchase of the mining rights from the Parent Company and the relevant application has been submitted to the Municipal Land Resource Bureau. In May 2008, the purchase of minings rights of Zhaolou coal mine was completed with the approval of relevant government authorities. The purchase consideration was approximately RMB747 million.

-F-54-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

40.RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties of the Company, have been eliminated on consolidation and are not disclosed. Details of balance and transactions between the Group and other related parties are disclosed below.

Related Party Balancesparty balances

The amounts due to the Parent Company and its subsidiary companies are non-interest bearing and unsecured.

The amounts due to the Parent Company and its subsidiary companies as at December 31, 20072008 and 20062007 included the present value of the outstanding balance that arose from the funding of the acquisition of the mining rights of Jining III as of January 1, 2001 discounted using the market rate of bank borrowings.

LOGO

40.RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS - continued

The consideration for the cost of the mining rights of approximately RMB132,479,000 is to be settled over the 10 years by equal installmentsinstalments before December of each year, commencing from 2001.

 

  At December 31,   At December 31, 
  2007 2006   2008 2007 
  RMB’000 RMB’000   RMB’000 RMB’000 

Amounts due to Parent Company and its subsidiary companies

      

Within one year

  669,275  982,347   706,328   669,275  

More than one year, but not exceeding two years

  7,703  8,181   7,253   7,703  

More than two years, but not exceeding three years

  7,253  7,704   —     7,253  

More than three years, but no exceeding four years

  —    7,253 
       
       

Total

  684,231  1,005,485   713,581   684,231  

Less: amount due within one year

  (669,275) (982,347)  (706,328 (669,275
              

Amount due after one year

  14,956  23,138   7,253   14,956  
              

Except the amounts disclosed above, the amounts due to the Parent Company and/or its subsidiary companies are repayable on demand.

Related party transactions

During the years, the Group had the following significant transactions with the Parent Company and/or its subsidiary companies:

 

  Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31,
  2007  2006  2005  2008  2007  2006
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Income

            

Sales of coal

  1,014,963  1,069,879  856,580  1,384,415  1,014,963  1,069,879

Sales of auxiliary materials

  595,143  496,221  369,855  550,986  595,143  496,221

Utilities and facilities

  —    —    29,000

Expenditure

            

Utilities and facilities

  377,074  358,370  355,953  376,288  377,074  358,370

Annual fee for mining rights

  12,980  12,980  12,980  —    12,980  12,980

Purchases of supply materials and equipment

  454,469  458,329  341,935  471,768  454,469  458,329

Repair and maintenance services

  215,102  246,841  197,624  253,864  215,102  246,841

Social welfare and support services

  313,062  406,004  242,952  255,265  313,062  406,004

Technical support and training

  20,000  20,000  15,130  20,000  20,000  20,000

Road transportation services

  60,718  63,448  53,346  86,671  60,718  63,448

Construction services

  316,801  306,658  —    294,938  316,801  306,658
         

-F-55-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

40.RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS - continued

 

Certain expenditure for social welfare and support services (excluding medical and child care expenses) of RMB165,900,000, RMB165,900,000 and RMB63,361,000RMB165,900,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 2006 and 2005,2006, respectively, and for technical support and training of RMB20,000,000, RMB20,000,000 and RMB15,130,000,RMB20,000,000, have been charged by the Parent Company at a negotiated amount per annum, subject to changes every year.

During the year ended December 31, 2006, the Company acquired Shanxi NenghuaNeng Hua from the Parent Company. Details of this acquisition are set out in note 38.39.

During the year ended December 31, 2005,2008, the Company acquired HezeZhaolou coal mine from the Parent Company. Details of this acquisition are set out in note 39.24.

In addition to the above, the Company participates in a retirement benefit scheme of the Parent Company in respect of retirement benefits (note 42).

Transactions/balances with other state-controlled entities in the PRC

The Group operates in an economic environment currently predominated by entities directly or indirectly owned or controlled by the PRC government (“state-controlled entities”). In addition, the Group itself is part of a larger group of companies under the Parent Company which is controlled by the PRC government. Apart from the transactions with the Parent Company and its subsidiaries disclosed above, the Group also conducts business with other state-controlled entities. The directors consider those state-controlled entities are independent third parties so far as the Group’s business transactions with them are concerned.

Material transactions with other state-controlled entities are as follows:

 

  Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31,
  2007  2006  2005  2008  2007  2006
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Trade sales

  6,035,156  4,600,606  3,855,545  10,253,998  6,035,156  4,600,606
                  

Trade purchases

  1,056,959  1,568,658  1,607,729  1,328,958  1,056,959  1,568,658
                  

Material balances with other state-controlled entities are as follows:

 

  At December 31  At December 31,
  2007  2006  2008  2007
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Amounts due to other state-controlled entities

  294,888  311,922
      

Amounts due from other state-controlled entities

  339,979  345,914  364,420  339,979
            

Amounts due to other state-controlled entities

  311,922  301,117
      

-F-56-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGOLOGO

 

40.RELATED PARTY BALANCES AND TRANSACTIONS - continued

 

In addition, the Group has entered into various transactions, including deposits placements, borrowings and other general banking facilities, with certain banks and financial institutions which are state-controlled entities in its ordinary course of business. In view of the nature of those banking transactions, the directors are of the opinion that separate disclosure would not be meaningful.

Except as disclosed above, the directors are of the opinion that transactions with other state-controlled entities are not significant to the Group’s operations.

Compensation of key management personnel

The remuneration of directors and other members of key management waswere as follows:

 

  Year ended December 31,  Year ended December 31,
  2007  2006  2005  2008  2007  2006
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Directors’ fee

  403  373  342  426  403  373

Salaries, allowance and other benefit in kind

  2,315  2,710  1,503  2,545  2,315  2,710

Retirement benefit scheme contribution

  378  1,030  678  407  378  1,030
                  
  3,096  4,113  2,523  3,378  3,096  4,113
                  

The remuneration of directors and key executives is determined by the remuneration committee having regard to the performance of individuals and market trends.

 

41.COMMITMENTS

 

  At December 31,  At December 31,
  2007  2006  2008  2007
  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000  RMB’000

Capital expenditure contracted for but not provided in the consolidated financial statements in respect of acquisition of property, plant and equipment

  322,271  1,221,884  142,399  322,271

Capital expenditure authorized but not contracted for in respect of development of new coal mines

  747,339  600,000  —    747,339
            
  1,069,610  1,821,884  142,399  1,069,610
            

In accordance with the regulations of the State Administration of Work Safety, the Group has a commitment to incur RMB8 for each tonne of raw coal mined from May 1, 2004 which will be used for enhancement of safety production environment and improvement of facilities (“Work Safety Cost”). The unutilized Work Safety Cost at December 31, 2007 was RMB187,470,000 (2006: RMB30,208,000).

LOGO

41.COMMITMENTS - continued

During 2006, the Company entered into a co-operative agreement with two independent third parties to establish a company for the operation ofacquiring a coal mine to be acquired in Shaanxi province.province for operations. In addition to the deposit referred to in note 29, the Company is committed to invest a further RMB78.8 million as at December 31, 2008 and 2007.

-F-57-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

41.COMMITMENTS - continued

Pursuant to the regulations issued by the Shandong Province Finance Bureau, the Group has to pay a deposit of RMB997 million (2007: RMB1,073 millionmillion) to the relevant government authority, which secured for the environmental protection work done by the Company. As at December 31, 2007,2008, deposit of RMB200 million (2007: RMB200 million) were made and the Company is committed to further make security deposit of RMB874 million.RMB797 million (2007: RMB873 million).

On October 24, 2008, the Company entered into an acquisition agreement with the Parent Company at a consideration of RMB593.24 million to acquire 74% equity interest in Shandong Hua Ju Energy Company Limited (“Hua Ju Energy”).

Hua Ju Energy is a joint stock limited company established in the PRC. The principal business of Hua Ju Energy is the supply of electricity and heat by utilizing coal gangue and coal slurry produced from coal mining process. The acquisition has been approved by the shareholders of the Company at the general meeting of shareholders. As at December 31, 2008, the equity transfer and approval from governmental authority have not been completed. At the date of issue of these financial statements, the equity transfer and approval from governmental authority have been completed and the Company has fully settled the consideration in respect of the acquisition.

During 2007, the Broad of Directors approved the Company enterentered into an agreement with the Parent Company and Zhongcheng Trust and Investment LLC. to establish a company, with the proposed name of Yankuang Group Finance Company Limited (the “Investee”), which will engage in banking and financing business. The name and the activities of the Investee are subject to the approval by China Banking Regulatory Commission and other relevant government authorities. The Company has agreed to contribute RMB125 million from internal resources, which will account for 25% of the equity interest in the Investee. As of December 31, 2007,2008, the procedures to establish the Investee are still in progress.

Compensation fees for mining rights are required to be pay annually and details are set out in note 24.

LOGO

 

42.RETIREMENT BENEFITS

Qualifying employees of the Company are entitled to a pension, medical and other welfare benefits. The Company participates in a scheme of the Parent Company and pays a monthly contribution to the Parent Company in respect of retirement benefits at an agreed contribution rate based on the monthly basic salaries and wages of the qualified employees. The Parent Company is responsible for the payment of all retirement benefits to the retired employees of the Company.

Pursuant to the provision of Administrative Services for Pension Fund and Retirement Benefits Agreement entered into by the Company and the Parent Company on January 10, 2006, the monthly contribution rate is set at 45% of the aggregate monthly basic salaries and wages of the Company’s employees for the period from January 1, 2006 to December 31, 2008.

The amount of contributions paid to the Parent Company were RMB759,356,000, RMB692,912,000 RMB640,620,000 and RMB522,650,000RMB640,620,000 for the years ended December 31, 2008, 2007, 2006, and 2005,2006, respectively.

The Company’s subsidiaries are participants in a state-managed retirement scheme pursuant to which the subsidiaries pay a fixed percentage of its qualifying staff’s wages as a contribution to the scheme. The subsidiaries’ financial obligations under this scheme are limited to the payment of the employer’s contribution. During the year, contributions paid and payable by the subsidiaries pursuant to this arrangement were insignificant to the Group.

During the year and at the balance sheet date, there were no forfeited contributions which arose upon employees leaving the above schemes available to reduce the contributions payable in future years.

 

43.HOUSING SCHEME

The Parent Company is responsible for providing accommodation to its employees and the employees of the Company. The Company and the Parent Company share the incidental expenses relating to the accommodation at a negotiated amount for each of the three years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 2006 and 2005.2006. Such expenses, amounting to RMB86,200,000, RMB86,269,000 RMB86,200,000 and RMB37,200,000RMB86,200,000 for each of the three years ended December 31, 2008, 2007 2006 and 20052006 respectively, have been included as part of the social welfare and support services expenses summarized in note 40.

The Company currently makes a fixed monthly contribution for each of its qualifying employees to a housing fund which is equally matched by a contribution from the employees. The contributions are paid to the Parent Company which utilizes the funds, along with the proceeds from the sales of accommodation and, if the need arises, from loans arranged by the Parent Company, to construct new accommodation.

 

-F-58-


YANZHOU COAL MINING COMPANY LIMITED

LOGO

44.MAJOR NON-CASH TRANSACTION

During the year ended December 31, 2007,2008, the Group acquired certain property, plant and equipment, of which RMB615,092,000 (2006: RMB442,536,000)RMB654,304,000 (2007: RMB615,092,000) have not yet been paid.

 

-F-59-F-75