China orders coal output boost

China has ordered coal-producing provinces to increase coal output to help areas affected by the May 12 Sichuan earthquake that are running low on coal, Thomson Financial News reported. In an emergency circular, the State Council also called on provinces to re-open small coal mines that had been closed due to safety issues. By May 21, coal stocks at many Sichuan power plants had fallen below seven days. The State Council has ordered Sinopec and China National Petroleum Corporation to guarantee oil supplies to the quake zone. Sinopec has said it will halt gasoline exports to cope with extra quake-related domestic demand. More than 68,900 people were killed in the May 12 quake, and nearly 18,000 remain missing.