Capital of China's coal province bans coal sales

Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi Province known for coal production, has banned sales, transport and use of coal to tackle air pollution.

From Sunday, companies and individuals other than major steel and power plants, are prohibited from selling, transporting or burning coal in the urban area of Taiyuan.

Dou Lifen, head of the city's environmental protection bureau, said coal remains the most biggest source for air pollution in winter in the city.

The ban is expected to cut coal use by over 2 million tonnes, or 90 percent of the city's total consumption.

By winter, the city will renovate heating equipment for 134,000 households in rural and urban areas, replacing coal furnaces with electric or natural gas heaters.

After a series of moves, including automobile exhaust and dust control, Taiyuan is expected to see reduction of PM 2.5 and sulfur dioxide by 45 percent, and days of heavy air pollution down 40 percent year on year to 22 days in 2017.