Coal price rise hits electricity producers

The price of coal used for power plants in China will go up 10 percent next year, an industry group said yesterday.

"The country's major power companies have completed contracts with coal producers for next year's supply. The average increase was 30 yuan per ton," said Liang Dunshi, vice-chairman of the China Coal Transportation & Sale Association (CCTS).

The nation's big electricity and coal producers gathered in Hebei Province's Xianghe this week to sign coal supply contracts for 2008. The top five power producers have all completed contracts for next year, he said.