The South African coal miner and its shares are up six-fold in the last nine months.

The ministry is likely to approach environment officials for a “certain relaxation in norms so that overall coal production can be further increased.”

New Hope, which operates the 10Mtpa Bengalla mine on Australia’s east coast, has held talks with prospective customers in Europe.

Europe’s biggest steelmaker has eliminated Russian commodities from its supply chain following the invasion of Ukraine.

China is requiring miners to offer 80% of their production through long-term contracts at prices capped by a government-set benchmark.

China’s increased reliance on coal to combat an energy shortage was never going to bode well for its ambitions to cut planet-warming emissions.