China to close 10,000 coal mines by end---2007

China will have closed 10,000 small-scale coal mines by the end of this year, six months ahead of schedule to shut down around half its small coal mines by mid-2008.

LiYingzhong, director of the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), disclosed the timetable in August while attending a conference commending the rescue of 69 miners. (The miners had been trapped in a flooded coal mine in Henan Province for more than three days).

Small coal mines, defined as having an annual production of less than 30,000 tonnes, account for one third of China#8217;s total production, but two third of the deaths resulting from coal mine accident.

To improve small coal mine safety management an reduce the death toll in coal mine accident, China set a target two years ago to close 10,000 small mines by June 2008.