Talks to end subsidies to Germany's coal mines broke down after one of the German state called for a phase-out four years ealier than previously agreed, local reports said on Thursday.

Juergen Ruettgers, prime minister of the state of North Rhine- Westphalia, home to most of the German mines, insisted on ending the coal subsidies four years earlier than 2018, which had been agreed by the key government officials, local news NTV reported.

North Rhine-Westphalia preferred to spend the money on more future-oriented projects rather than coal, according to a state spokesman.

Meanwhile, more than 10,000 German miners put on a strike in western city of Duesseldorf against the government plans to end coal subsidies.

Earlier this week, Germany's ruling "grand coalition" agreed to end the heavy governmental subsidies to the coal industry by 2018 to keep in line with Europe-wide trends.

According to the previous agreement, the plan will be reevaluated and approved by parliament in 2012 before any subsidies are phased out.

The German coal industry employs 33,000 miners, receiving some 2.5 billion euros (3.23 billion U.S. dollars) of subsidies each year.

Source: Xinhua