Beijing's neighbours hesitate at pollution cuts - China Dialogue | 09.08.2013 | A smog-plagued Beijing is showing more determination than ever to control coal burning, but for nearby provincial governments large cuts in energy consumption may be a step too far. The recent announcement of plans to lower air pollution levels in the next five years are far greater than any proposed before, some being several times tougher than those included in the 12th Five Year Plan (FYP) period, which was only finalised in 2012....Beijing started controlling coal use in 2011, and in 2012 said that it would aim to cut consumption to 15 million tonnes a year, compared to the 20 million tonnes goal in its 12th FYP. Beijing can afford to be confident. It has four pipelines from Shaanxi to ensure Beijingers have access to natural gas from the north-west, supplying both energy and winter heat. ...And after years of efforts, Beijing has relocated its power-hungry industries and mostly replaced coal use with natural gas. The MEP gave a plan for dealing with air pollution in Hebei to the provincial government for comment. By 2017, the province was to have reduced coal consumption by 100 million tonnes (of raw coal) on 2010 levels. ...ent wrote to the MEP, requesting that given the province's economic circumstances it be allowed to cut consumption by only 25 million tonnes of standard coal, or about 35 million tonnes of raw coal. That would put consumption in 2017 at about 315 million tonnes.