Coal checkpoint near Beijing closes on Monday

A major checkpoint for coal supplies from Shanxi province, which accounts for one-quarter of the country's reserves and output of the fuel, will close on Monday as part of government efforts to improve coal transportation and distribution.

The Taiyuan-Jiuguan Highway Road Coal and Coke Supervision Station, at the border of Shanxi and Hebei provinces, is the last checkpoint for vehicles heading to Hebei, which almost completely surrounds Beijing.

The station is one of the many coal and coke inspection points that have helped manage the sale and transportation of fuel supplies for more than three decades. But recent media reports have renewed concerns over the risks of bribery and unreasonable and unnecessary fees at the checkpoints.