China gives new incentives to boost high-quality coal capacity (Reuters U.S. – February 9, 2018)

https://www.reuters.com/

BEIJING (Reuters) – China plans to increase high-quality coal supply by allowing mines to boost capacity if they shut outdated production processes, the latest effort by authorities to further streamline the industry and stabilize coal prices.

Coal companies will be encouraged to close inefficient and polluting mines and replace them with larger ones if they meet certain standards, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a statement on Friday.

Companies that agree to sign long-term contracts with power plants or to set up joint ventures with power companies will be allowed to expand their capacity by 130 percent to 300 percent.

The NDRC would give those allowed to boost capacity less than a year to shut outdated production, the statement said.

The incentives are the latest of several measures taken by China to foster closer ties among coal mines, coal-related businesses and power utilities as it looks to stabilize coal prices. Last year, China’s top coal miner Shenhua Group Corp took over China Guodian Group Corp and created world’s largest power utility.

For the rest of this article: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-coal/china-gives-new-incentives-to-boost-high-quality-coal-capacity-idUSKBN1FT0HW