Sharp increases in EU emissions trading system (ETS) allowance values in recent sessions have worsened market conditions for German coal-fired power generation for next year, with around 46pc of the fleet priced out of the base-load market.

India's state-controlled mining firm Coal India (CIL) has formed a joint venture with NLC India, a state-controlled lignite producer and utility, to set up thermal and solar power assets with a combined capacity of 5GW in the country.

UK-Australian resources firm BHP and its partner, Japanese trading house Mitsubishi, plan to spend $100mn on 34 autonomous trucks at their 4.5mn t/yr Daunia coking coal mine in the Bowen basin in Queensland, Australia.

Most agreed that the increased production is a concern and could lead to an oversupply on the market and lower prices.

US coking coal prices have been flat to slightly stronger early this week ahead of current third-quarter spot requirements in Europe closing.

Higher costs and lower thermal coal prices are likely to see Australian thermal coal mining firms report a loss for January-June.

China's major state-controlled power generating company Huaneng has announced plans to reduce its summer restocking of domestic spot coal.

The world's first flexible direct current (DC) power grid project has been put into operation, creating 12 world firsts, Sina Finance reported on Wednesday.