China ramping up controls on low-quality coal imports

Beijing

CHINA is ramping up controls on imports of low-quality coal due to concerns about smog and overcapacity in the world's top coal consumer, a government official said on Wednesday, as traders report that some cargoes have been delayed by customs checks.

"As long as the coal meets standards, we don't forbid imports, but we are imposing controls on low-quality coal imports," said Zhi Shuping, head of the Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine which oversees imports safety. "If we let all kinds of coal import into domestic market, it will hit the domestic market," Mr Zhi said, speaking on the sidelines of the annual meeting of China's parliament.