Mining Restrictions Eased to Prevent Winter Coal Price Surge

(Beijing) — China's top economic planner has temporarily eased an earlier rule restricting coal miners to work for only 276 days a year to rein in coal prices this winter.

Production of the fossil fuel has dropped amid government efforts to trim overcapacity and curb pollution, pushing up prices in recent months.

The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Thursday that coal mines that "meet work safety standards" can resume working 330 days a year to increase output before the heating season ends in March.