nsure sufficient energy supplies amid the country's green transition, said industry experts.

    China has been taking orderly steps to increase advanced coal production in recent years to ensure sufficient power supply during peak hours and extreme weather, aiming to have coal play a larger role as an emergency backup power supply as the country is on the track to peak carbon emissions by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, said Lin Boqiang, head of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University.

    "As many of the country's small coal-fired power plants built during the last century have become outdated and energy-consuming, it is necessary to replace them with units boasting better safety and efficiency levels. However, the exit process should also be prioritized. If local heat and electricity supply cannot keep up with demand for a while, then it should be delayed for a while," Lin said.

    Source: By Zheng Xin, chinadaily.com. Mar. 21, 2023 [https://epaper.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202303/21/WS6418ee72a3107776898877f8.html]