China to Ban Imports of High Ash, High Sulphur Coal

China will restrict imports and the sale of coal with high ash and high sulphur content starting from January 2015 in a bid to tackle air pollution, the National Development and Reform Commission said on Monday.

Coal with ash and sulphur content exceeding 40 percent and 3 percent respectively will not be allowed to be transported for more than 600 kilometres from their production sites or receiving terminals.

Coastal cities in the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River as well as Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei will also be banned from burning coal that have more than 16 percent ash and 1 percent sulphur, according to a statement published on the NDRC website.

(Reporting by Fayen Wong; Editing by Michael Urquhart)