China power cuts: Coal miners ordered to boost output, say reports

Beijing has reportedly ordered China's coal mines to boost output as an energy shortage across the country has seen millions of homes and businesses hit by power cuts in recent weeks. Three major coal-producing provinces have pledged to increase production, Chinese news agency Caixin said. Several provinces across the country have been suffering from blackouts since the middle of last month.

Demand for electricity is soaring as the country emerges from lockdowns. North China's Inner Mongolia region has told more than 70 mines to boost annual output capacity by nearly 100 million tonnes, according to the Reuters news agency, citing a government official and coal traders. The area is the country's second-largest producer of coal.

The proposed increase in output of 100 million tonnes would amount to almost 3% of China's total annual thermal coal consumption.

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