Why is anthracite struggling to replace bituminous coal in rural Hebei winter heating?

Why is anthracite struggling to replace bituminous coal in rural Hebei winter heating?
Rural Hebei's coal-to-gas transition has exposed anthracite's practical drawbacks. Anthracite burns cleaner but is harder to ignite, prone to extinguishing and clinker formation, and requires furnace retrofits. Villagers report it is less heat-efficient and less cost-effective than bituminous coal, despite a price premium of about 200 yuan per tonne. Gas heating costs two to four times more than loose coal, pushing many families to secretly burn banned bituminous coal despite fines of 1,000-2,000 yuan and drone surveillance. The policy gap between environmental goals and rural affordability remains unresolved, with safety risks like carbon monoxide poisoning from improper anthracite use adding to the friction.