China is ready and confident to ensure sufficient electricity and coal supply this winter and next spring to ensure people’s basic living needs and stable business operation, an official said.

Zhao Chenxin, secretary-general of the National Development and Reform Commission , said at a news conference on Wednesday that China is working to better unleash coal production capacity to support electricity supply, while holistic efforts have been made across departments to shore up energy supplies.

With economic activities actively resuming globally, energy products on international markets have surged since the start of the year, Zhao noted, and domestic supply of electricity and coal in China has been tight.

In response to the situation, coal mines with the potential to increase output will be urged to tap into their production capacity as soon as possible, and approved and basically completed open-pit coal mines will be encouraged to enter into operation, he added.

Meanwhile, the pricing mechanism for coal-fired power will go through market-oriented reforms in an orderly manner. The floating range of market-based electricity transaction prices are adjusted in principle to a range of 20 percent fluctuation in either direction, compared with the current ceiling of 10 percent and floor of 15 percent from the benchmark price.

Local governments will be asked to earnestly fulfill their responsibilities in ensuring coal and electricity supply for residents and businesses, he said, while competent financing and fiscal policies to support coal mines to tide them over through tough times are already in the pipeline.