China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) released new guidelines for the nation's coal contingency reserves on Wednesday, China Securities Journal reported.

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The guidelines include regulations about qualifications for reserve companies and the circumstances under which reserves should be used.

Coal mines with an annual output of more than 20 million tons and electricity companies which have an annual capacity of more than one million kilowatts can apply for the reserve qualification.

The national reserve program is set to ensure energy for regions far from coal mines or that partly rely on water power.

The reserve period will be eight months of every year.