Chinese government orders closure of 7,000 mines
Beijing (AsiaNews/Agencies) China has ordered some 7,000 mines to halt production and improve the safety of their operations. National media today reported the latest in a series of crackdowns, which so far have had with little if any effect.
The first batch of 1,324 unsafe mines ordered to stop production and improve conditions or face permanent closure was announced by the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety on Tuesday, the press said.
"The number is not all the mines on the suspension list. The total will reach 7,000 soon," an unnamed administration spokesperson said.
China has about 24,000 coal mines, many of which are unlicensed, and meet 70 per cent of the country's energy needs.
"I'm sure the coal supply will not be affected because many state-owned big mines have increased production since last year," Li Wenge, of the Coal Industry Group of Shaanxi province, said. State-owned mines tend to be bigger and safer than those in the private sector.
The poorest provinces and miners will be hardest hit by the order. While the shut-down orders were meant to improve the plight of miners, many stand to lose the only source of income for their families. "Those in private and small mines will lose their jobs and their families will become poorer," Li said, especially in the western regions of the country.
Yesterday Beijing also instructed local authorities to set up work teams to ensure party officials sell their stakes in mines as ordered.
The announcement was made online August 24 by the State Administration of Work Safety which warned that any government official, at any level, who did not withdraw their investments from mining before September 22 would suffer the consequences. However, what those consequences might be was not clearly spelled out.
The order said however that shares in mines that respect safety regulations are allowed.
China's mining industry is the most dangerous in the world. According to official figures, 6,027 people died in mining accidents last yearthat is 16 per day.
In 2005 up to today, there have been 1,436 deaths and more than 60 per cent of the fatal accidents have occurred in mines that had been shut down for safety regulation violations.
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