Abstract: The energy endowment characteristics of “ relatively rich in coal,poor in oil,less natural gas,and uranium deficiency” in China result in that the coal resources as the China’ s main energy will not change in the short term.Meanwhile,the relatively abundant coal resources are still the most stable and cost-effective competitive minerals in China. There should be a clear understanding that it is unrealistic,unwise and unscientific to abandon the actual ener- gy choices based on coal to solve China’s energy problems. However,it should be noted that the coal resources have brought about environmental pollution,ecological damage,waste of resources,and high emissions in the whole process from geological exploration to development and utilization. Therefore,the development of the coal industry in China will certainly undergo some significant changes in the new era. Implementing scientific exploration and development,clean utilization,and low-carbon consumption,characterized by science,safety,ecology,high efficiency,standardization,digi- tization,and intelligence,is the only way to realize the sustainable development of China’s coal industry. Aimed at the challenges and opportunities for the coal industry in China,the present situation and existing problems of coal re- sources in the whole process from geological exploration to development and utilization is analyzed,and the strategic thinking of building an upgrade version of main energy (coal) industry in China is proposed. In this paper,the authors focus on 11 key scientific and technological problems faced in the process of realizing the upgrade version of China’s main energy (coal) industry,namely the problems of comprehensive coordination,green exploration,deep exploration, and intelligent exploration for coal resources in the process of geological exploration;the problems of green,safety,re- covery rate,occupational health,and high benefit in the coal development process;the clean and low-carbon problems in the process of consumption and utilization. Meanwhile,the corresponding exploratory solutions are put forward. It is of great theoretical significance and practical value to promote the transformation and upgrading for China from a large coal producing country to a powerful coal industrial country,and also to address the sharp contradiction between Chi- na’s current economic and social development and the protection of ecological environment.