BEIJING: China Shenhua Energy Co., the country's biggest coal producer, said Saturday that its first-quarter profit jumped 16.6 percent over a year ago as China's rapid economic growth drove strong energy demand. Profit in the three months ending March 31 was 11 billion yuan ($1.7 billion), or 0.55 yuan (8 US cents) per share, up from 33.6 billion yuan a year earlier, Shenhua said. Revenue rose 41.1 percent to 47.4 billion. Shenhua said its coal sales by weight rose 36 percent, driven by an economic rebound.
