Two ministries: coordinate coal mine closures with regional supply security and promote orderly exit of backward-capacity mines
The National Development and Reform Commission and the National Energy Administration have issued the "15th Five-Year Plan for Coal Industry Development". It states that resource development access standards will be raised. Adhering to the principle of establishing the new before abolishing the old, the plan coordinates coal mine closure and exit with regional supply security, and promotes the orderly exit of backward-capacity mines in accordance with market-based and law-based principles. The western region will optimize its production structure and accelerate the elimination of mines with poor technology and equipment or overlapping ecologically sensitive areas. The eastern and central regions will steadily promote the exit of mines affected by severe disasters that cannot be effectively managed and mines with depleted resources, properly handling legacy issues and worker resettlement. The southwestern and northeastern regions will set policy standards according to local conditions, reasonably guide the exit of small and medium-sized mines with poor resource conditions and low safety guarantees, using policy guidance and market mechanisms.