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NDRC asks miners to avoid closures

China's National Development and Reform Commission on Thursday warned coal miners not to temporarily close to avoid inspections as the country's top economic regulator works to stabilize prices amid environmental and safety checks. The NDRC also asked coal producers to send more coal to power plants in northeastern China that have low inventories. Regions such as the three northeastern provinces as well as the southwestern provinces of Sichuan and Yunnan are facing difficulties in securing coal supplies. China's thermal coal prices fell nearly 3 percent to 639.8 yuan ($96.95) a metric ton on Thursday.