China calls for improvement in coal transport
Railway companies and authorities in key areas called on to secure supplies.

China's top economic planner on Wednesday said rail companies and local authorities should step up coal transportation in key areas, including the northeast region, and ensure stable supplies for power generation.
The National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) issued a communication calling on local economic planners, energy administrations and railway companies to increase coal transports to meet the population's heating needs during the winter season.
Local economic planning departments should promote medium to long-term supply contracts for steam coal that include a guarantee of transportation capacity, according to the NDRC.
"Every railway company should increase the transport of coal to power plants with a supply of less than seven days and start the emergency supply mechanism in good time," said the NDRC.
The request comes at a time when the world's second largest economy is grappling with a power shortage, has brought systems to a standstill in key industrial centers and has spilled over into the private sector in parts of the northeastern regions.
The state planner called on the railway companies to secure coal transport in key production regions such as Shanxi, Shaanxi and Inner Mongolia, as well as in the northeastern provinces, and to give priority to the transport of coal for heating and power generation.
She also urged local governments to closely monitor the supply, demand and stocks of coal in the power plants.
The top-traded futures contracts for thermal coal on the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange rose 6.9% in early trading on Wednesday to 1,377 yuan ($ 8,903.98) a ton.
($ 1 = 0.1547 Chinese yuan)
