Premier Li visits coal country, talks jobs

On a visit to Shanxi province last week, Premier Li Keqiang highlighted the need for new economic opportunities for coal miners as the government continues to crack down on overcapacity, reported China Daily. The premier visited the Shigejie mine – once China’s largest – which shut down last year as facilities were outdated and the quality of coal produced was low. The 2,816 employees of the mine were supported in their transition to new jobs in nearby mines or in the service sector. On his visit, Premier Li said retraining was essential as 23.25 million metric tonnes of coal production capacity were phased out in Shanxi alone last year and more layoffs are expected. The Government Work Report delivered in March stipulated that steel production capacity would be cut by 50 million tonnes this year while coal capacity would be cut by 150 million tonnes.