Staff members of Baogang Group prepare for the shutdown of Baotou's coal gas supply. [Photo/Baotou news network]

On Jan 17, Baotou city in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region officially entered the era of natural gas.

In 1980, Baogang Group started supplying coal gas to residents in Baotou. Since then, coal gas has played a crucial role in the lives of residents. Over the span of 43 years, Baogang has cumulatively supplied 1.8 billion cubic meters of coal gas to 140,000 households in the city.

On Jan 17, the main valve of the coal gas storage and distribution station in Baotou was closed, marking the complete withdrawal of artificial coal gas from Baotou's gas market. All pipeline coal gas users in the urban area have now switched to clean, efficient, and high-quality natural gas.

It has been reported that currently, Inner Mongolia Zhonghao Gas Co is making every effort to carry out the city's natural gas distribution work.