No new coal mine approvals in next 3 years as China tackles pollution

Hong Kong

CHINA will stop approving new coal mines for the next three years and continue to trim production capacity as the world's biggest energy consumer tries to shift away from the fuel as it grapples with pollution.

China will suspend the approval of new mines starting in 2016 and will cut coal's share of its energy consumption to 62.6 per cent next year, from 64.4 per cent now, Xinhua News Agency reported on Tuesday, citing National Energy Administration head Nur Bekri. It's the first time the government has suspended the approval of new coal mines, according to Deng Shun, an analyst with ICIS China.