Dec 08, 2017 08:12 PM

CHINA无效

Thousands in Rural China Secretly Burn Coal as Gas Prices Soar

By Zhou Chen, Li Rongde and Wu Xiao

Jinzhang village's primary school is using a small electric heater as a temporary measure, but the classrooms are still very cold. Photo: Yang Yifan/Caixin

Jinzhang village's primary school is using a small electric heater as a temporary measure, but the classrooms are still very cold. Photo: Yang Yifan/Caixin

(Linfen, Shanxi province) – Families in the heart of China's coal belt are secretly burning tree branches and coal briskets to keep warm this winter, after a government campaign to install gas heating failed to meet deadlines.

A spike in the price of natural gas and supply shortages have added to their woes, making it impractical for rural households and businesses to switch to the cleaner fuel.

You've accessed an article available only to subscribers

Subscribe today for just $.99.

VIEW OPTIONS

Share this article

Open WeChat and scan the QR code

GALLERY

: Gallery: Powerful Quake Strikes Off Japan

PODCAST

Caixin Deep Dive: Chinese Local Governments Risk Replicating Mistakes of LGFVs

00:00

00:00/00:00

MOST POPULAR

1: The Week Ahead (Jan.26 - Feb. 1): Fed Weighs Rate Move, U.S. Exits Paris Pact

2: Analysis: Why ByteDance Matters More Than DeepSeek in the Global AI Race

3: Shanghai Exchange Slaps New Limits on Metal Trading as Prices Soar

4: Cover Story: China’s Deposit Repricing Tests Banks and Savers as Trillions Come Due

5: In Depth: How a Lakeside Banquet Reinforced Confidence in Baolide Among China’s Tech Elite

SPONSORED

OR