China will close more than 2000 smaller and less productive coal mines as part of its national push to kill low quality coal.

Higher environmental standards to fight the threat of noxious pollution have prompted the move.

News outlets say old and run-down mines will be the first to go, while there are also plans to consolidate the work of remote mines around Inner Mongolia and Xinjiang.

China’s National Energy Administration says the task will fall to regional governments to facilitate mergers and instigate upgrades.

Any mine with an annual output below 90,000 tonnes will be considered for closure, as well as those with a poor safety or coal quality history.

The latest round of wind-down comes after similar efforts in 20120, when China closed 628 small coal mines, boosted technological efficiencies at 622, and amalgamated 388 others.

China is in the final phase of its current five year plan, running from 2011 to 2015, which has been aimed at reducing non-renewable resource consumption in particular.

The nation wants to cut its reliance on fossil fuels for electricity from 70 per cent to 64 per cent by 2017.

Reuters reports say China’s total coal production will likely increase considerably over this time period however, which may have to be capped as a number of new project approvals come to fruition.