Check on China: China Natural Resources Inc.

Fossil fuels' days may be numbered, as nations across the globe make a push toward cleaner "green" energy alternatives, but oil, coal and natural gas will continue to provide the bulk of the world's electricity, heat and transportation fuels for the foreseeable future.

While China's alternative energy market is growing fast in an effort to meet Beijing's target of having 10% of its energy needs met by renewables (including solar, wind, hydro, biomass and wind power) by 2010, coal dominates the domestic energy market, supplying 75% of the country's power needs. Chinese coal companies are profiting handsomely from soaring coal prices. According to a China Galaxy Securities Research report, the average earnings growth of coal companies in the first quarter is projected to be 40% to 50%, while 2008 growth is expected to come in around 40%.

Which brings us to China Natural Resources Inc. (Nasdaq:CHNR). China Natural Resources was incorporated in 1986 to seek out and invest in small Chinese companies. Since then, it has been involved in various ventures, including running Silver Moon, an online Traditional Chinese Medicine news and information resource, a supermarket in Zhuhai (in the Guangdong province), and timber operations (Xilian Timber Mill and Hainan Weilin Timber Limited). In 2004, the company acquired iSense Limited, through which it provided advertising, marketing and public relations services to clients in Mainland China and Hong Kong until selling the company in 2006.

Since then, the company has decided to invest in and focus on the mining industry. In February 2006, China Natural Resources acquired Feishang Mining Holdings Limited, an operation engaged in mining of zinc, iron and other minerals. Feishang operates . . .

---You can read the FULL article when you register (registration is free!) or sign-in to SmallCapInvestor.com---