BEIJING: China is set to optimise its coal industry by 2030, focusing on cleaner and more efficient production to safeguard its baseload energy supply, a newly released government road map states.
According to the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030) for Coal Industry Development, jointly issued by the National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration, the country will continuously advance the construction of coal supply guarantee bases and refine cross-regional coal transport patterns.
Regulators will raise the industry entry barrier, phase out outdated mines and prioritise high-efficiency operations, while ensuring a gradual plateau in domestic coal consumption. By 2030, it aims to cement coal as a critical energy buffer while making sure modern and high-efficiency facilities dominate production.
Nationwide, large-scale modern mines will account for 87% of total production capacity, and the share of capacity from automated and “smart” mines will jump to 75%. The road map comes at a time when China is accelerating toward a greener economy. — China Daily/ANN
