The Datong municipal government has provided roughly 719,000 tons of free coal supplies for heating in winter to low-income rural families by the end of September, according to the related office in Datong on Oct 9.

Low-income families in rural areas of Shanxi province will receive 1 ton of coal per household until 2015, according to the policy issued by the provincial government in 2011. The policy emphasizes both coal quality and quantity to ensure low-income families have sufficient coal supplies for heating in winter. Over 705,000 rural households in nine counties and districts in Datong benefited from this policy this year.

Relevant agencies began a series of measures in early Sept, including frequent communications with coal suppliers, coal unloading arrangements and coal delivery services, to ensure the implementation of the policy.