The Chinese government will force the use of low-sulfur coal in Beijing in its ongoing battle to improve air quality in the country.
According to a report from Reuters, which quoted the official Chinese news agency, Xinhua, strict controls on the quality of coal burnt in the Chinese capital will come into effect from 1 August and will cover all industrial uses of the fuel – the first time such broad controls will be implemented in the country.
Air quality is a frequent complaint of China’s growing middle class and an issue the country’s Communist rulers have been increasingly active in trying to address.
Already this year, the government has committed to reducing its dependence on coal for power and has urged steel-makers to use higher-quality raw materials to meet tougher pollution targets.
Written by Jonathan Rowland