Royston Carr Asset Management - In an effort to reduce pollution, China will create no-coal zones in certain urban areas in its northern Shanxi province.

Online PR News � 17-October-2018 � Royston Carr Asset Management analysts say that Datong, a major coal producing city in China will implement coal free zones as part of its campaign to fight pollution.

The government of the Shanxi province stated that the coal free zone would cover an area of 102 square kilometers and would forbid the sale, storage and combustion of any types of coal. Royston Carr Asset Management analysts say provision will be made for the use of coal-fired power and heating systems.

This winter, more than 16,000 homes in Datong will begin to use cleaner gas-powered heating and 3,812 coal-powered boilers have already been destroyed.

Although the majority of Datong's collieries are now depleted, the city was once a major coal-making region. Over-mining has tainted the city's soil and polluted water tables. Severe subsidence has left many areas of the former mining district unsuitable for construction or farming.

With Datong being rated as one of China's worst cities in terms of meeting water quality standards during the first 6 months of 2018, Royston Carr Asset Management analysts say as many as 650,000 Shanxi residents have been relocated from old mining regions deemed unsafe.

Shanxi's neighbor the province of Hebei has led China's fight against pollution for the last 4 years and has created similar coal free zones in a number of its cities.

Royston Carr Asset Management analysts say Hebei was required to reduce coal consumption by 40 million tonnes over a 4 year period as part of its mandate to improve air quality in its smog prone cities.