Keywords: "14th Five-Year Plan Outline"
On March 11, 2021, the Outline of the 14th Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People's Republic of China and the Long-Range Objectives Through 2035 was passed, proposing to concentrate coal production in resource-rich areas, improve cross-regional coal transportation channels and logistics systems, promote the construction of sustainable development demonstration zones and transformation innovation pilot zones in resource-based regions, implement comprehensive management of coal mining subsidence areas and the renovation and upgrading of independent industrial and mining zones, promote the clean and efficient use of fossil energy such as coal, and strengthen coal reserve capacity.
Keywords: "14th Five-Year Energy Plan"
On January 29, 2022, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and the National Energy Administration issued the "14th Five-Year Plan for a Modern Energy System," proposing to strengthen the bottom-line safety guarantee for coal. It aims to optimize coal production capacity distribution, build five major coal supply bases in Shanxi, western Inner Mongolia, eastern Inner Mongolia, northern Shaanxi, and Xinjiang, and improve cross-regional coal transportation channels and logistics systems. It also calls for continuous optimization of coal production structures, focusing on the development of advanced production capacity and arranging a number of large, modern coal mines with good resource conditions, strong competitiveness, and high safety standards.
Keywords: Determination of Advanced Coal Production Capacity
On June 7, 2022, the Ministry of Emergency Management, the National Mine Safety Administration, the NDRC, and the National Energy Administration jointly issued the "Notice on Strengthening the Determination of Advanced Coal Production Capacity," specifying the conditions for increasing advanced coal production capacity.
Keywords: Coal Production Capacity Reserve
On April 2, 2024, the NDRC and the National Energy Administration issued the "Implementation Opinions on Establishing a Coal Production Capacity Reserve System," proposing to establish a preliminary coal production capacity reserve system by 2027, orderly approve the construction of a number of coal reserve mine projects, and form a certain scale of dispatchable capacity reserves. By 2030, the reserve system will be more complete, the capacity management system will be further improved, aiming to form a dispatchable reserve capacity of around 300 million tons per year. The designed capacity of coal reserve mines consists of conventional capacity and reserve capacity.
Keywords: Energy Law
On November 8, 2024, the Energy Law of the People's Republic of China was passed at the 12th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress and will take effect on January 1, 2025. This is the first foundational and overarching law in China’s energy sector. The Energy Law specifies that the state will optimize the layout of coal development and industrial structure, encourage the development of circular economies in coal mining areas, optimize coal consumption structure, promote clean and efficient utilization of coal, and leverage coal’s fundamental security and systemic regulatory role in the energy supply system.

Keywords: Mineral Resources Law
On November 8, 2024, the "Mineral Resources Law of the People's Republic of China" was revised and adopted by the 12th meeting of the Standing Committee of the 14th National People's Congress of the People's Republic of China, and will come into effect on July 1, 2025. The Mineral Resources Law adds two new chapters, "Ecological Restoration of Mining Areas" and "Mineral Resource Reserves and Emergencies," and, for the first time, makes specific provisions for land used for mining. It also elevates the systems of mineral resource planning and mineral resource inspection to the level of law.