OREANDA-NEWS. Heavy rain in northern China has caused flooding in the major coal producing province of Shanxi as well neighbouring Hebei, potentially disrupting coal production and transportation in the region. Weather-related disruptions to mining operations could tighten domestic coal supplies at a time when output has already been falling following government orders to cut production.

Several coal mines in Shanxi have been forced to close temporarily because of heavy rain in the province. The capacity of the affected coal mines is unclear.

Flooding in the region may also hamper coal transportation. The amount of coal transported on the Daqin railway, which connects Shanxi province to the key coal transshipment hub of Qinhuangdao port in northeast China's Hebei, dropped to 298,000t on 18 July from 363,000t the previous day. Volumes recovered slightly to 313,000t yesterday and 357,000t today.

Heavy rain since 18 July prompted authorities in Shanxi to raise storm warnings to the second highest level yesterday. There are also warnings the storm could trigger landslides in the region. China's meteorological administration forecasts more rain in the north and northeast parts of the country today and tomorrow, with rainfall of more than 200mm in some places.

Shanxi is China's second biggest coal-producing province, with its coal output accounting for about a quarter of the country's total.