A coal mine. Image: Thinkstock China will not allow new coal mines in the next three years, according to reports. Nur Bekri, Head of the country’s National Energy Administration reportedly said it will block any proposed coal mine project until at least 2019. China will also establish a mechanism to control coal-fired plants construction and production. The decision follows a reduction in demand for coal, low prices and concern over the country’s air pollution, Mr Bekri added. China aims to source 13.2% of its energy from non-fossil fuel sources. Around 64% of energy comes from coal but the country aims to reduce its consumption by 2% this year. The government also plans to add more than 20 million kilowatts of wind power and more than 15 million kilowatts of solar power in the next five years. In December last year, China announced it will reduce 60% of emissions produced in the power sector by 2020 by upgrading coal-fuelled power plants. That will help reduce 180 million tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) emissions generated from coal-fired stations in the next five years, the country said.
Nur Bekri, Head of the Chinese National Energy Administration (NEA), said that China will block any proposed coal mine project from now until the next five years in a bid to reduce 60% of carbon emissions produced in the energy sector by 2020. Over at least 2019 the NEA estimates that preventing new coal mines from opening will reduce CO2 by 180 million tonnes. According to the NEA China is aiming to reduce its consumption of coal by 2% this year, by sourcing 13.2% of its energy from low-carbon sources from wind, solar and hydro-energy sources.