Shanxi cuts coal use in push for blue skies

With increasing efforts to curb air pollution, Shanxi province has significantly reduced its coal consumption, and is well on track to shift to new energy-generated electricity for its winter heating.

As one of China's principal coal hubs, Shanxi province is under huge pressure to improve its air quality. In the first three quarters of last year, seven out of the 20 Chinese cities with the worst air quality were in the province.

In August 2018, the provincial authorities issued a three-year plan to tackle air pollution, highlighting measures such as restraining coal, promoting clean energy, and shifting from coal to electricity for heating.