China vows scaled-back coal industry

BEIJING -- The National Energy Administration (NEA) vowed on Wednesday to continue scaling back the coal industry in a drive to encourage use of renewable energy.

China will continue to eliminate excess production capacity in the industry and curb its blind expansion, as the country targets a switch to greener energy sources, according to a circular issued by the NEA.

It vowed to "spare no effort" to reduce air pollution and improve environmental protection through efficient use of coal and cutting emissions.

Coal consumption accounts for about 66 percent of China's primary energy consumption, 35 percentage points higher than the world average, according to the NEA.

The government plans to slash coal consumption by 160 million tonnes in the next five years, and to reduce energy intensity, or units of energy per unit of GDP, by 3.1 percent in 2015.