The country is also expected to remain the world's largest primary energy consumer despite slowing demand growth.

UK-Australian resources firm BHP is likely to spin out its thermal and lower-grade coking coal assets into a new firm, similar to the formation of South32 in 2015.

Australian coal producer New Hope is planning to cut 75pc of all corporate staff, including in its marketing and exploration sectors.

China's benchmark power coal price rose slightly during the past week..

China Taiyuan coal transaction price index stood at 125.91 points Monday, up 0.73 percent week on week.

Cutting the use of coal is one of the province's key measures to promote environmental conservation.

Thermal coal prices for South Korea edged higher this week.

The price of coal fluctuated slightly from August 31 to September 6.