China's most polluted province Hebei cuts coal use by half

BEIJING: China's Hebei Province, known for the worst air pollution has announced 50 per cent cut in coal usage to improve the air quality besides closing down clay brick kilns.

Hebei Province in northern China which neighbours Beijing is often blamed for the capital city's pollution woes.

Hebei Vice Governor Zhang Jiehui said the province would cut emissions from coal-fired power stations by half. Stations that can not meet the goal will be shut down, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.

The government also plans to close all solid clay brick kilns as they cause heavy pollution.

Coal emissions contribute half of the air pollution in Hebei, the vice governor said at an air pollution control meeting.

Hebei comprises seven of China's 10 smoggiest cities, according to official 2014 air quality data.

Last month, a documentary highlighting China's air pollution woes had claimed that annually over half a million people die prematurely due to illness as a result of burning of coal.

Beijing had 175 polluted days in 2014, eclipsed by neighbouring Tianjin with 197 and Shijiazhuang with 264 days, official media has reported.