This investigation highlights three key points. The first is to highlight key issues, and conduct key investigations on clues about suspected price gouging and price collusion. The second is to highlight key links and firmly hold the key to the “pit price” of coal production enterprises. The third is to highlight key areas, focusing on the investigation of coal enterprises in the three main thermal coal producing areas.

From the perspective of illegal forms, the main manifestations of price gouging are as follows. The first is to substantially increase the sales price to drive up the price. Coal production enterprises have greatly increased the sales price without significant changes in the cost. The second is to increase transaction links, and increase prices at various levels to drive up prices. Coal production enterprises sell coal to affiliated trading companies, and increase sales through affiliated trading companies to push up prices. The third is to sell thermal coal at a high price in the name of chemical coal. The company signs a confirmation letter in the name of “chemical coal”, but the actual sales of thermal coal push up the price by avoiding the long-term price limit. The main form of non-implementation of government pricing is that individual coal trading centers set up their own projects and set their own charging standards, increasing coal transaction costs.