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Facing Wave Of Fatal Accidents, China Orders Unsafe Mines To Close Down
The Chinese government has issued a circular ordering all unsafe or illegal mines to be closed down in an attempt to stem a wave of large-scale mining accidents. "Some mines have ignored the law, ignored government supervisers and ignored the need for safe production ... causing a series of large-scale accidents," said the circular, posted on the website of the mine safety administration. The circular listed a number of mine categories that should "immediately stop operations and undergo rectification," including mines that lack measures to prevent fatal gas leaks. The document, which was also signed by powerful agencies such as the National Development and Reform Commission, ordered local governments to step up supervision. It is not the first time China has told mine owners to take safety more seriously. But enforcement is usually a problem, as many local officials encourage mining as a means of boosting the economy in the areas they govern. Official figures show that more than 6,000 miners died in accidents in China last year, although independent estimates say the real figure could be as high as 20,000. The State Administration of Work Safety has said it would not be until 2020 that China's mining industry would reach the level of safety seen in "medium developed countries" such as South Korea. China has pledged to invest 1.8 billion dollars in improving coal mine safety this year. In an effort to trim demand, it is also striving to rein in rapid development in coal-guzzling industries such as cement, steel and coal-fired power plants. All rights reserved. � 2005 Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse. Related Links TerraDaily Search TerraDaily Subscribe To TerraDaily Express 
Bangladesh Signs Deal With Chinese Companies To Extract Coal
Dhaka (AFP) Jun 05, 2005Bangladesh's state-owned Petrochemical company, Petrobangla, signed an 82 million dollar deal with two Chinese companies to extract coal from one of the country's biggest mines, a junior minister said Sunday.
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