BEIJING - China's energy administration approved six coal mining projects in the northwestern region of Xinjiang with a combined production capacity of 15.3 million tonnes per annum.

The projects involved a total investment of 8 billion yuan ($1.24 billion), according to statements from the energy administration. ($1 = 6.4574 Chinese yuan)

(Reporting by Muyu Xu and Shivani Singh; Editing by Himani Sarkar) ((muyu.xu@thomsonreuters.com; +86 10 56692117;))