IN BRIEF (Page 14)

Coal demand growing

China's coal demand is expected to gradually pick up in the second half of the year, and coal output will likely grow fast as small mines speedily return to production, the China National Coal Association said on its website.

Coal consumption in the power sector fell in the first half of the year. Power plants connected to major grids consumed 315 million tons of coal, down 8.9 percent on year, the association quoted Zhong Neng Power Industry Fuel Co.