Hebei surpasses targets to reduce polluting steel and coal production capacity

China's largest steel region in Hebei province this year surpassed plans to cut its steel, coal and coke industries as part of efforts to reduce air pollution and overproduction, the government's press office said.

Hebei, which is located near Beijing, has cut 25.55 million tons of steel capacity and 20.66 million tons of pig iron per year this year, Xinhua News Agency reported, citing a local government meeting. At the same time, the local government also cut coal capacity by 10.5 million tonnes and coke capacity by 8.08 million tonnes, state media reported.

Air pollution in China tends to be most severe in winter, as indoor heating systems emit pollutants. Solving the problem has become a political priority, and Hebei officials said they will hold officials accountable if the region fails to meet its objectives.

To further curb pollution during the winter, Hebei also limited steel and pig iron production by 50 percent in major manufacturing cities including Tangshan, Handang and Shijiazhuang, Xinhua reported.

Concentrations of hazardous pollutants, known as PM2.5, in Hebei Province fell 38.5 percent in the first 10 months of 2017 compared to the same period in 2013, Xinhua News Agency reported.