(Bloomberg) -- China’s coking coal industry needs more state protection, including restrictions on supply, according to the chairman of the biggest miner.

Beijing should control mining activity, limit output and consolidate smaller producers into state-owned firms to “reduce disorderly competition,” Shanxi Coking Coal Energy Group Chairman Zhao Jianze told local media. China should also build strategic reserves of the steelmaking fuel, which he called “a ballast stone in China’s industrial economic system.”

While blessed with an abundance of thermal coal for power generation, China’s reserves of the steelmaking variety are far more scarce. That’s led to an over-reliance on imports, which has created vulnerabilities. A ban on Australian supplies — the only effective substitute for Chinese coking coal, according to Zhao — drastically curtailed shipments for more than two years before it was lifted in early 2023. 

Zhao is a national committee member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, one of two legislative sessions being held in the capital this week. Officials typically use the meetings to catch the attention of policymakers as they draw up the government’s agenda for the year ahead. 

Coking coal producers have suffered an outsized impact in recent months from a spate of fatal mining disasters in China, which has disrupted operations and curbed supply. The protracted slump in China’s property market is also sapping demand from their customers at steel mills.

On the Wire

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Chinese investment can’t be the solution for cash-strapped Canadian miners seeking financial backing, according to Canada’s natural resources minister.

China set a bullish target of around 5% growth this year as top leaders try to boost confidence in the world’s second-largest economy. But for some analysts, Premier Li Qiang’s lack of details on how to get there was out of step with the nation’s deep challenges.

The head of Russia’s space agency said it’s working on plans with China on ways to deliver and install a nuclear power plant on the moon by 2035.

China’s weak energy intensity target exposes its growth dilemma.

The Week’s Diary

(All times Beijing unless noted.)

Wednesday, March 6:

  • China’s National People’s Congress continues in Beijing through March 11
  • CCTD’s weekly online briefing on Chinese coal, 15:00

Thursday, March 7:

  • China’s 1st batch of Jan.-Feb. trade data, including steel, aluminum & rare earth exports; steel, iron ore & copper imports; soybean, edible oil, rubber and meat & offal imports; oil, gas & coal imports; oil products imports & exports. ~11:00
  • China’s foreign reserves for February, including gold
  • BNEF energy transition forum in Beijing, 13:00
  • China International Forum on Imported Coal, Xiamen, Fujian, day 1

Friday, March 8:

  • China weekly iron ore port stockpiles
  • Shanghai exchange weekly commodities inventory, ~15:30
  • China International Forum on Imported Coal, Xiamen, Fujian, day 2

Saturday, March 9

  • China’s inflation data for February, 09:30
  • China to release February aggregate financing & money supply by March 15

--With assistance from Dan Murtaugh.

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