"The previously pent-up steel consumption will not disappear. It will only be delayed," Shi said.

Facing the pressure of increasing uncertainties in the global energy market caused by geopolitical conflicts, China has pledged maximum efforts to safeguard its energy supply.

Data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed the country's raw coal output rose 10.3 percent year-on-year to 1.08 billion metric tons in the first quarter.

The Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2022 which ended on Friday was closely watched by business runners and scholars worldwide as the global economy desperately needs impetus and certainty.

New energy generated from renewables gains more ground as private firms, SOEs up efforts.

An overhaul for the Datong-Qinhuangdao railway has been recently carried out on a daily basis to secure safe and smooth rail operations.

In north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, the rugged surface of an exhausted coal mine has received a major face-lift, newly populated by 1.12 million photovoltaic modules, beneath which numerous plants are flourishing.

China's central bank on Wednesday announced that it has increased the targeted re-lending quota for the coal industry by another 100 billion yuan (about 15.11 billion U.S. dollars) to support the clean and efficient use of coal.