China’s coal imports rose 20.9% in March as its power stations struggled to cope with abnormally cold winter weather and to replenish stocks at power plants and steel mills. The country’s energy ministry said the drop was due mainly to a lack of demand for coal, which is used primarily by heating homes but also makes up about half of total electricity generation. * While Beijing had a hand in the growth by curtailing output with environmental regulations and efforts to eliminate inefficient mines, now that the drive is over, the country plans on boosting domestic production by decreasing imports by 8% and rising output by 3%, according to Zhao Jianguo of China Coal Transport and Distribution Association.
China’s coal imports rose 20.9% in March as its power stations struggled to cope with abnormally cold winter weather and to replenish stocks at power plants and steel mills. The country’s energy ministry said the drop was due mainly to a lack of demand for coal, which is used primarily by heating homes but also makes up about half of total electricity generation. While Beijing had a hand in the growth by curtailing output with environmental regulations and efforts to eliminate inefficient mines, now that the drive is over, the country plans on boosting domestic production by decreasing imports by 8% and rising output by 3%, according to Zhao Jianguo of China Coal Transport and Distribution Association.