SHIJIAZHUANG, June 6 (Xinhua) -- North China's Hebei Province has decided to phase out over 12 million tonnes of coal production this year, the provincial development and reform commission said Wednesday.

Twenty-two coal mines are scheduled to be shut down completely or partially within the year, cutting coal production capacity by 12.17 million tonnes, the commission said.

China has been dissolving excess capacity in coal and steel production, in part due to its air pollution control efforts. The production cut is expected to improve air quality in Hebei and neighboring Beijing and Tianjin municipalities.