China churned out 970.56 million tonnes of coal between January and March, up from 829.91 million tonnes in the same period in 2020.

Soaring coal prices in China are making mining companies prioritize output ahead of safety, a government agency said amid a spate of deadly accidents.

The mining giant is exploring the use of bunker fuels such as liquefied natural gas and biofuels to replace fuel oil, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by 40% when shipping its products.

The London-listed company aims to decrease its reliance on coal and steel and attract a broader base of investors by adding more battery metals.

A section of the mine filled with water when 29 miners were working at the site in Hutubi county.

This represents a recovery from last year's 4.2% decline in collective output.

The restrictions on imports from Australia came into effect in the second half of last year, resulting in China's imports dropping to virtually zero in the first two months of this year.