China to Set New Coal Industry Measure by 2015

China National Energy Administration said the government plans to set up 10 coal mining groups with annual capacity of 100 million metric tons (mt) each and another 10 with 50 million mt each by 2015 as the Chinese government further consolidates the industry. According to China Knowledge, the National Development and Reform Commission, China’s top economic planner, said it will sharply cut the number of coal firms, especially small ones. Currently there are more than 11,200 coal companies in the country. The commission aims to raise the average annual capacity of individual coal firms to 800,000 mt from the current less than 300,000 mt.