The Shanxi Coal Industry Bureau announced yesterday that two thirds of the provincial major coalmines will keep going during the Spring Festival that falls in early February this year, and about 1,000 local coalmines will resume production 20 days earlier than last year in order to meet the electricity coal demand. Authorities estimate that Shanxi will churn out more coal this February than the same period last year and thus alleviate the shortage.

Shanxi Province is the hub of China's coal industry. So far, the province has taken a series of measures to ensure adequate coal supplies. It is estimated that the shortage will be relieved next month.

A source inside the State Power Control Center said that the situation was still very urgent although electricity coal reserves have leveled off.

For more details, please read the full story in Chinese. (http://finance.sina.com.cn/chanjing/b/20080130/01594468925.shtml)

(China.org.cn January 30, 2008)