The industry restructuring is expected to be in place by year-end, in preparation for public listing two to three years later.
As part of the long-term plan, the seven groups may form alliances with enterprises in the electric power, transport, sea-harbor and shipping industries, while maintaining an independent management structure.
Hong Long-listed Yanzhou Coal will probably be merged into the Beihjing-Tianjin-Hebei Group according to the geographical divisions, reports said.
Most of China’s over 50,000 coal mines are debt ridden, outdated technology, poor safety records. Nearly 10,000 small coal mines have been ordered to shut down by the Chinese government.
