China's coal consumption declines for third consecutive year
BUSINESS
By Deng Junfang

2017-03-02 18:53:23

China witnessed a third consecutive year of falling coal consumption in 2016, raising hopes that the world's largest coal producer and consumer is on track towards reducing air pollution as it continues to battle climate change.
Recent figures from China's National Bureau of Statistic (NBS) showed that coal consumption dropped 4.7 percent year-on-year in 2016.
The bureau said the share of coal in China's total energy consumption mix fell to 62 percent in 2016 from 64 percent the year before. Coal production dropped even more with a total output of 3.4 billion tons, down nine percent compared with 2015, it added.
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“In early 2011, the share of coal in China's total energy consumption in China was 70 percent. We planned to reduce the share to 62 percent by the end of 2020. Now we’ve reached that goal four years earlier than expected,” said Li Junfeng, director from China’s National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation.
China plans to shut down at least 500 outdated coal mines and use more clean fuel sources in 2017, the country's top energy watchdog said last month. 
The closure of outdated coal mines should lead to a capacity reduction of 50 million tonnes, according to guidelines released by the National Energy Administration (NEA).
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The guidelines targeted 3.65 billion tonnes of coal output for 2017, noting that coal should account for about 60 percent of China's total energy consumption. The proportion stood at 64 percent in 2015.
“China will continue to reduce coal consumption, in order to cut down carbon dioxide emissions as well as fight against smog,” Li said. 

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