Questions And Answers About Promoting The Smooth Operation Of The Coal Industry

The director of the State Energy Development Bureau of the national development and Reform Commission answered the reporter's question on the opinions of the general office of the State Council on promoting the smooth operation of the coal industry.

　　 Q: please introduce the background of the "opinion".

A: after nearly ten years of rapid development, the coal industry has gradually got rid of the long-term deficit situation, and the industry has undergone tremendous changes. But since 2012, the situation of coal supply and demand has changed. There are new situations and new problems, such as the decline in coal production, the high inventory level, the sharp fall in prices, the decline in corporate profits and the increase of accounts receivable.

There are many factors that cause the difficulties of coal enterprises. First, under the condition of loose supply and demand of the market, some of the coal mine's super capacity production is more serious, and some backward production capacity has not yet withdrawn from the market, and the import coal has continued to grow substantially, resulting in a relative surplus of market supply. Two, the tax burden of enterprises is heavier, and the coal charges and fees are not standardized. Three, the depth of coal mining is generally increasing, safety production and environmental management standards have been raised, and the cost of mining rigidity has increased rapidly. Four, the single product structure and the blind expansion of industry coexist, and the level of refined management is not high. Five, some state-owned enterprises still undertake certain social functions and have a heavy historical burden.

The CPC Central Committee and the State Council attach great importance to the smooth operation of the coal economy and the healthy development of the coal industry. The central leading comrades have repeatedly written the relevant departments of the state to study and solve the difficulties faced by the development of the coal industry. On the basis of extensive research and repeated demonstration, with the approval of the State Council, the general office of the State Council issued the "opinions", and promulgated comprehensive and powerful policies and measures from the national level, which is of great significance for promoting the steady operation of the coal economy and promoting the sustained and healthy development of the coal industry.

　　 Q: what is the main content of the opinion?

A: the opinion firmly grasped the key issues in the current operation of coal economy, and persisted in tackling both the root cause and the symptoms, and put forward the following opinions: first, scientifically regulate and control the total amount of coal, and curb the chaotic growth of coal production; two, we should strictly clean up all kinds of unreasonable coal charges and accelerate the reform of resource tax, and effectively lighten the tax burden of coal enterprises; three, optimize the structure of the import and export of coal, and strengthen the management of the import and export links of coal; four, further strengthen the internal management of enterprises, and improve the level of production and operation of coal enterprises; five, mobilize all aspects of power to create a favorable environment for the development of coal enterprises.

　　 Q: what specific measures did the opinion put forward to curb the chaotic growth of coal output?

Answer: under the situation of slowing economic growth and easing coal supply and demand, the key to improving the relationship between supply and demand and promoting the smooth operation of the market is to curb the chaotic growth of coal production. In accordance with the general requirements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council on resolving the serious contradiction of excess capacity, the opinions put forward the following specific measures in close connection with the actual situation of structural overcapacity in the coal industry. First, control increments. We will stop approving new coal mines with a capacity of less than 300 thousand tons / year and coal and gas outburst mines below 900 thousand tons / year. New coal mines must strictly abide by capital construction procedures and strictly investigate and deal with irregularities such as unauthorized construction, small batch construction and so on. The two is to optimize the stock. Starting from improving safety production management, phasing out 90 thousand tons / year and below coal mines, focusing on closing coal mines which do not have safe production conditions, and speeding up the closure of coal and gas outburst hazards and other serious coal mines. The three is to curb superpower production. Coal enterprises must organize production in strict accordance with the approved construction scale and production capacity of coal mines. We will establish a coal mine capacity registration and announcement system, improve the penalty standard for super capacity production, increase penalties, and publicize the punishment results regularly. Four, speed up structural adjustment. Effective integration of resources, encourage mergers and acquisitions of coal enterprises, with large enterprises as the main body, orderly construction of large modern coal mines in large coal bases, and promote intensive production of coal.

　　 Q: what are the requirements of the opinion to lighten the tax burden of coal enterprises?

A: at present, coal enterprises are strongly concerned about the heavy burden of coal related taxes and fees. According to the survey, various coal related taxes and fees generally account for 25 to 35% of the business revenue, and even higher in some areas. After verification, all kinds of taxes and fees paid by coal enterprises include taxes, government funds and administrative fees collected according to the law, and some local governments have accounted for a considerable proportion of the fees related to the regulations on charges related to enterprises. These illegal fees not only increase the burden on enterprises, but also damage the image of the government. It is an important measure to alleviate the difficulties of coal production and operation and to stimulate the vitality of the market players to clean up all kinds of illegal coal related charges as a breakthrough and to lighten the tax burden of coal enterprises. It is also an important embodiment of establishing a modern financial system and building a government under the rule of law. To this end, the "opinion" requires that by the end of 2013, the Ministry of Finance and the development and Reform Commission should focus on cleaning up the charging situation of the coal industry in key coal producing provinces, and resolutely clamp down on arbitrary charges, scrambling for funds and apportionment, effectively reducing the burden of coal enterprises, and speeding up the reform of the levying of coal resources tax. Next, the relevant departments will promptly organize and implement the relevant work according to the requirements of the State Council and report to the State Council.

　　 Q: why should we strengthen the management of coal import and export links?

A: in recent years, coal imports have continued to increase significantly, playing a positive role in increasing domestic coal supply and adjusting the supply and demand layout. However, due to the imperfect laws and regulations, the import of inferior coal with high ash content and high sulfur content increased rapidly, not only impacting the domestic market, but also increasing the pressure of energy saving and emission reduction, which is not conducive to improving the atmospheric environment. In order to strengthen the management of coal import and export links and maintain the reasonable scale and structure of coal import and export, the opinions put forward specific measures from the following three aspects. First, according to the requirements of energy conservation and emission reduction and environmental protection, we should study and formulate the national standards for commercial coal quality, and strengthen the quality inspection of imported coal products. The two is to study and perfect the differentiated import tariff policy of coal, encourage the import of high quality coal and prohibit the production, use and import of high ash and high sulfur inferior coal. Three, we should further improve the monitoring and analysis of the total volume, structure and trend of import and export of coal, and timely adjust the relevant policies and measures for coal export according to the market changes at home and abroad. It should be pointed out that the requirements for coal quality are unified for domestic production, use and foreign imports. At present, relevant departments are studying and formulating the "coal quality management measures", which will further implement the restrictions on the high ash and high sulfur inferior coal products.

　　 Q: what are the requirements of "opinion" in raising the level of production and operation of coal enterprises?

Answer: coal enterprises improve their production and operation level and enhance their core competitiveness, which is the most important part of adapting to market fluctuations and resisting market risks. The opinions put forward the following requirements for improving the level of production and operation of coal enterprises. First, we should strengthen the supply and demand analysis of the market, organize production in accordance with the law, strictly prohibit private mining and over mining, and strengthen the supplementary geological exploration and reserve of coal resources, and extend the service life of mining areas. Two, we should strengthen the meticulous management within the enterprise, reduce non productive expenditure, reasonably control the cost of production and operation, and improve the level of internal control and safety production. The three is to maintain harmony and stability in the mining area and ensure the safe operation of coal mines, further increase input in safety production, and protect the personal safety and legitimate rights and interests of front-line workers. Four, we should give full play to the important role played by industry organizations in self-discipline management, statistical monitoring, information dissemination, promotion of advanced technology and management experience, research and formulation of standards, and so on, and guide the healthy development of the industry.

　　 Q: what are the specific requirements of the opinion for building a good development environment for coal enterprises?

Answer: a good development environment is an important guarantee for the coal enterprises to go to battle lightly and is a basic requirement to promote the sustained and healthy development of the coal industry. To create a favorable environment for the development of coal enterprises, we should practically help enterprises to solve the problems of survival and development, and improve the market exit mechanism for the survival of the fittest. We should not only strengthen the guidance to the development of the industry, but also reduce unnecessary administrative intervention. In view of this, the opinions put forward the following five requirements. The first is to solve the problems left over by old mining areas and old enterprises. In the social functions undertaken by the former state-owned key coal mines, the operation costs of schools, public security and other institutions that have been separated and transferred to the local areas are included in the local budgets according to relevant policies and regulations. Other social functions that have not yet been separated are effective measures to speed up the transfer. To solve the problems of medical and social management, social functions transfer and other issues of retirees left by the former state-owned key enterprises. Two, we should establish and perfect the exit mechanism, and close down bankruptcy in accordance with the law according to the law of coal mines which are insolvent, lose money and lose their profits. The three is to support the development of coal mining enterprises circular economy, accelerate the construction of a number of coal and electricity integration projects. The four is to promote the signing of medium and long-term coal contracts between coal enterprises and users, and strengthen the supporting link between the coal industry and the manufacturing planning and production operation. Five, local governments at all levels and relevant departments should promptly adjust and improve the enterprise assessment mechanism, and actively promote the normal circulation of the coal market in China.

　　 Q: what specific measures will be taken by the national development and Reform Commission and the national energy board to implement the "opinions"?

Answer: the task of promoting the smooth operation of the coal industry is urgent and has great responsibilities. The national development and Reform Commission and the State Energy Bureau will carry out relevant work in conjunction with relevant departments in accordance with the requirements of the "opinions". One is to study and publicize in depth. We should combine the implementation of the "opinions" with the implementation of the spirit of the party in the third Plenary Session of the 18th CPC Central Committee as a vivid manifestation of the comprehensive deepening reform in the coal industry; we should implement the "opinion" as an important part of the party's mass line educational practice activities, and transform the Party Central Committee and the State Council's concern and attention to the coal industry into concrete results of the sustained and healthy development of the coal industry. We will make extensive use of various media and forms of publicity to hold seminars and seminars in a timely manner to publicize the importance of the introduction of the "opinions" and to interpret the specific provisions of the documents so that the coal industry management departments and coal enterprises can fully grasp the connotation of the documents. The two is to improve the supporting policies. The national development and Reform Commission and the State Energy Bureau will, according to the main contents of the "opinions", work closely with the relevant departments according to their functional orientation, work out the division of labor plans, and take the lead and participation units one by one. With regard to the strict new coal mine admittance standards put forward by the opinion, the establishment of the capacity registration and announcement system for coal mines, the centralized rectification and rectification of coal related charges, the strengthening of quality management of commercial coal and the solution of the problems left over by enterprises, we will make further work arrangements with relevant departments, and formulate supporting policies to clarify the relevant requirements. Three, we must pay close attention to the implementation of the work. We should intensify the investigation and research efforts, and thoroughly understand the implementation of the opinions in the coal producing provinces (autonomous regions and municipalities), coordinate and solve the relevant problems in implementation, and ensure the implementation of all policies and measures. We will continue to improve the national energy board's work mechanism for the scientific development of coal enterprises, listen to the feedback from the coal industry, push forward the building of a service-oriented government, further strengthen the sense of service, improve the service level and quality, and strive to promote the smooth operation of the coal industry.