Beijing criticizes coal industry

The Chinese government is apparently cracking down on the domestic coal industry more harshly than before. According to reports from several news agencies, a commission set up by Beijing has accused the Chinese energy regulator NEA of making mistakes in controlling the traditional energy sector. The commission had been set up with the approval of the party leadership by the Ministry of Ecology and Environment. The NEA had lowered environmental standards in applying a coal law and failed to push sufficiently for clean energy and a low-carbon transition, the commission had ruled in a report.