Shanxi's coal production rises

The total coal output in North China's Shanxi Province reached a record 960 million tons in 2013, up from 913 million tons a year earlier, the Xinhua News Agency reported Sunday.

Out of this total output, 620 million tons of coal were used outside the province.

The coal-rich province will continue to push forward mergers and acquisitions of coal miners this year, and encourage techno-logy upgrades of coal mines to ensure the sustainable development of the coal industry, the report quoted Li Xiaopeng, governor of Shanxi, as saying.

China's total coal production increased slightly to 3.7 billion tons in 2013, while consumption stood at 3.61 billion tons, according to the China National Coal Association.