Coal mining hub to cut coking capacity

Shanxi province, the major coal mining hub in China, has pledged to cut coking capacity and annual coke output, according to a government statement on Tuesday, in line with a long-term drive to reduce toxic emissions from heavy industry.

The province is also giving coke producers until Oct 1, 2019 to meet stringent environmental standards, according to the statement, with those missing the deadline facing the prospect of being ordered to shut down. The statement came after all 11 cities in Shanxi were identified this year by the central government as "key battlefield" of the country's steadfast anti-pollution campaign.