By Kelsey Cheng and Lu Yutong

January 23, 2024 - China’s coal output hit a record high last year, as the country ramped up production to ensure energy security and avoid a repeat of crippling shortages in the preceding years.

Coal production reached 4.66 billion tons in 2023, a 2.9% increase year-on-year, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. It also marks the third consecutive year that annual output has surpassed 4 billion tons.

Despite ambitious long-term climate goals that include peaking carbon emissions by 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2060, as well as the rapid development of renewables, coal is still the mainstay fuel to safeguard China’s energy supply.