BEIJING, Aug 15 Reuters China39;s coal output rose 2.8 in July from a year earlier as mines ramped up production to ensure steady supply amid recordbreaking heat, statistics bureau data showed, even though thermal power output fell while hydropower generation surged.

The world39;s largest coal producer mined 390.37 million metric tons of the fuel last month, according to the National Bureau of Statistics data on Thursday, down from June39;s 405.38 million tons, which was the highest level since December 2023.

China39;s national energy regulator said late in July it was coordinating power plant coal inventories to keep them at a minimum of 200 million tons because of continuing hot weather.

Average daily coal output in July stood at 12.59 million tons, according to Reuters calculations, down from 13.5 million tons a day in June but up from 12.18 million daily tons a year earlier.

Thermal power output disappointed the coal industry in July, however, falling for a third straight month as more electricity was generated by hydropower because of heavy rains in July.

China39;s thermal power generation fell 4.9 to 574.9 billion kilowatthours kWh even as total power generation rose 2.5 to 883.1 billion kWh, the statistics showed.

Meanwhile, hydropower generation for the month rose 36.2 on the year to 166.4 billion kWh.

China39;s growing coaltochemicals industry is offsetting some of the slowing demand for coalfired power, with coal consumption in the chemicals industry…