Major Coal Mine Reports Increase in ExportsDatong Coal Mine Group Co. Ltd., the nation's largest coal production base in northern Shanxi Province, reported coal exports of 8.23 million tons last year, up 91 percent from the previous year.The increase is in line with the government's plan to expand coal exports and cut coal production reasonably in a bid to ease the country's large domestic stockpile and achieve a balance between coal supply and demand. Sources from the State Administration of Coal Industry said that expanding coal exports is of great significance for the sustainable development of the country's coal industry. Meanwhile, the expansion of coal exports will make the country' s coal sector more open to the rest of the world, and help turn the sector from being extensive to intensive in terms of management and operations. The government will also force a large number of small coal mines to close down or cut production, and ask that large coal mines reduce coal stockpiles and reduce their output. China is the world's largest coal producer, turning out one- third of the world's total output. However, the country exports only a fraction of the world total coal trade. |
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