(File photo: VCG)

BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhua) -- The National Development and Reform Commission, China's top economic planner, has approved two coal mine projects with combined investment totaling 9.36 billion yuan (about 1.32 billion U.S. dollars).

The construction of the two projects is conducive to ensuring energy supplies, the commission said in a statement on its website.

The two projects, one located in Shanxi Province and the other in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, will each have an annual production capacity of 5 million tonnes.

The projects are not allowed to expand coal production beyond the approved capacity, according to the statement.

The commission also asked the two projects to use energy-saving facilities and strictly follow safety laws and regulations to ensure workplace safety.