Coal-rich China province reports better air quality

The northern Chinese coal-rich province of Shanxi saw improved air quality in the first 10 months of the year with reductions in emissions of air pollutants.

A composite air index fell 9.3 percent year on year, according to the provincial department of ecology and environment.

During the January-October period, the emissions of sulfur dioxide, a major type of pollutant in the province, particularly in the coal-burning winter heating season, fell 21.1 percent.

Emissions of PM10 and PM2.5, airborne particles smaller than 10 micrometers and 2.5 micrometers in diameter, dropped 12.5 percent and 5.1 percent respectively.

Shanxi has stepped up the development of new energy in a bid to power its economy with more clean energy. New energy accounted for over 23 percent of the total power generating capacity in the country's long-time largest coal-producing area.

Shanxi is estimated to see 36 billion kWh of electricity generated by new energy in 2019, up 9 percent year on year, according to the provincial branch of the State Grid.

The estimate means the province can replace 11.34 million tonnes of standard coal with generated electricity and reduce 30.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, it said.