China: NDRC approves 16 new coal mines to boost domestic supply

In a bid to raise China’s domestic coal supply, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) has approved another 16 newly-built opencast coal mines, after approving 20 mines last month. The newly approved mines are located in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, with capacity at around 25 mn t per annum. China’s thermal coal supply has risen steadily since mid-August with a rise in coal production. Coal stocks at power plants also rebounded, with supply gradually exceeding consumption. Another 50 mn t of opencast coal production capacity is set to obtain approvals around mid-Sept’21, which is expected to raise coal supply monthly above 7 mn t.