Coal Resource Network

China will coordinate the exploration, production, supply, storage and sales of strategic mineral resources during the 15th "Five-Year Plan" period and accelerate a new round of strategic actions for prospecting breakthroughs, Liu Guohong, Party secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and national chief inspector of natural resources, said at a briefing on September 22. The move is aimed at safeguarding the security of strategic mineral industrial and supply chains.

China added nearly 70 million tonnes of recoverable oil reserves and 610 billion cubic meters of recoverable natural gas reserves in the first eight months of 2026, Liu Guohong, Party secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and national chief inspector of natural resources, said at a briefing on September 22. New resources at the Chating copper-gold mine in Anhui and the Zhugongtang lead-zinc mine in Guizhou reached super-large scale, Liu said.

China's revenue from transfer of mineral exploration rights jumped 133.5% year on year in the first eight months of 2026, Liu Guohong, Party secretary of the Ministry of Natural Resources and national chief inspector of natural resources, said at a press conference on September 22.

Investment in non-oil and gas mineral exploration rose 8.1% year on year in the first half of 2026, while new orders for ocean-going vessels and ocean engineering equipment climbed 83.7% and 160.8% year on year, respectively, during the January-August period, Liu said.

China will continue its new round of strategic mineral exploration during the 15th "Five-Year Plan" period to secure energy supply and support advanced manufacturing, Vice Minister of Natural Resources Zhou Xing said at a press conference on September 22. Zhou, who is also spokesperson for the ministry, said demand for key mineral resources will maintain rigid growth as China remains a major manufacturing country.

The Hainan Dongfang CZ8 offshore wind farm completed the installation of all 42 turbines on September 21, marking a key milestone for the project. Located in the offshore area west of Gancheng town in Dongfang city, Hainan province, the project site is about 12 km from the coast and has a total installed capacity of 500 MW, comprising 42 offshore turbines of 14 MW each.

Jinyu Jidong Cement has completed the issuance of its first tranche of 2026 short-term financing bonds on the national interbank bond market, raising 1 billion yuan at a coupon rate of 1.55%. The issuance drew 13 qualified investors with a subscription ratio of 2.8.

China has published the first International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) social and technology trends white paper focused on pumped storage, titled "The Future of Pumped Storage: Technology Innovation and Standardization Trends (2025-2035)", marking a new breakthrough in international frontier technology and standardization research. The white paper systematically reviews global pumped storage technology development, engineering practices and standardization needs, and highlights results from China's landmark demonstration projects including the Yalong River basin hydro-wind-solar integrated base, the Fengning pumped storage plant's variable-speed units and the Wuhai pumped storage plant, showcasing China's progress in coordinated development of new energy bases, variable-speed unit application and digital construction.

China's top economic planner said on Sep 22 that private investment in water network construction exceeded 10.8 billion yuan in the first half of 2026, up 85.8% year on year. Li Chao, deputy director of the policy research office at the National Development and Reform Commission, told a press conference that private capital participated in half of the approved green power direct-connection projects.

The People's Bank of China (PBOC) conducted 35 billion yuan of 7-day reverse repos at a fixed rate of 1.40% through a quantity tender on September 22, 2026, fully meeting the demand of primary dealers. With no reverse repos maturing on the day, the operation resulted in a net injection of 35 billion yuan.

China's yuan midpoint was set at 6.7459 against the U.S. dollar on September 22, 2026, 28 basis points stronger than the previous day's fix of 6.7487. The onshore yuan closed at 6.6955 at 16:30 and ended at 6.6953 in overnight trading.

Germany imported 1.70 million tonnes of hard coal in July 2026, up 6.45% YoY and 19.9% MoM, according to preliminary data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany.

Pakistan's electricity generation rose 5.1% YoY to 14.94 TWh in August 2026, the third-highest August level on record, according to Arif Habib Limited Research. The figure was 1.2% lower than Jul's 15.12 TWh. Average unadjusted fuel cost climbed 38% YoY to PKR 10.01/KWh ($0.04/KWh).

Russia's 8.5% tariff indexation from Oct 1, 2026, will deteriorate exporters' margins despite relatively high export prices. According to estimates by Metals & Mining Intelligence, netbacks for Kuzbass thermal coal exporters at the Far Eastern ports will decline 7-12% depending on calorific value. The netback for 6,000 Kcal/kg NAR coal at the Baltic ports will drop 11%. In addition, terminal handling rates at the Baltic ports are boosted by stronger shipping demand amid export disruptions through the Black Sea ports.

Malaysia has introduced a package of measures to accelerate its Corporate Renewable Energy Supply Scheme, including a fixed grid-access charge for firm power and a mandatory 10-yr minimum contract term between developers and consumers, according to a government announcement. The measures are aimed at improving project bankability and encouraging development.