Mines feel the cold as coal use drops

A decline in coal use, due to the economic slowdown, may warm the hearts of environmentalists, but the sector that produces the traditional heat source may be feeling the chill.

As the largest coal burner in the world, China's coal use last year fell by 2.9 percent from 2013 levels. In the first half of this year, the nation saw a 5.8 percent fall in coal use, followed by a 4 percent fall in the third quarter, according to energy specialists.

For all of this year, China may see a 4.3 percent reduction in coal use compared with last year, said Han Xiaoping, CEO of China5e.com, an energy information website.