The second "5" refers to five industrial parks.

The "8" indicates the ambition to build a recycling economy network. This in turn is based on eight industries: coal, electricity, coal chemicals, metallurgy, mechanics, construction materials, tourism, and solar energy.

By the end of the 12th Five-Year Plan period (2011-2015), revenues from the recycling economy are expected to surpass 100 billion yuan, accounting for over 60 percent of the group's total revenues.

Datong Coal also hopes to enter China's top 500 companies list, and even become a world-famous energy group during the 12th Five-Year plan period.

After 60 years of development, Datong Coal has accumulated a lot of experience in training and managing workers and handling social relationships. It is starting over from a relatively high point in matters of size, number of people, production capacity, and image.

Wu Yongping, board chairman of the Datong Coal, believes that it is responsible for the nation's energy supply and security: "As a forerunner in the field in China, the group has to become more and more powerful.

"Surpass ourselves and build a bigger and better Datong Coal - this is our goal," he said.