Authorities at China’s Hebei province said they would reduce coal consumption and prohibit coal use at its Xiongan new area district by the end of 2021. Hebei, one of China’s key industrial hubs, houses the country’s major steel and cement makers, which consume a large volume of coals. Around 46 million tons of coal was sold in Hebei in 2020. The province regularly imports coal from neighbouring Shanxi and Inner Mongolia provinces.
The Hebei announcement came as Beijing renewed its carbon emissions reduction push under its 2021-2025 economic plans, where the country committed to cut its greenhouse gas emissions per unit of GDP by 18% by 2025. The central government is expected to step up its pressure on the province to curtail coal intake after four of its cities were listed among the ten most polluted cities in China.
On March 7, Hebei authorities also introduced various new restrictions on the cement and steel industries. Its Xiongan district near Beijing is also set to be coal-free. It was established in 2017 to showcase China’s technological advancements and serve as the country’s economic blueprint.
