In order to reduce the number of mining accidents as well as to boost resource utilization rates, the authorities in the southwestern Chinese province of Guizhou have ordered the closure of seventy-eight small coal mines.
Guizhou is one of the main coal producing provinces in China, producing 100 million mt of coal in 2009. With the elimination of outdated capacities in recent years, the number of coal mines in the province has been cut from more than 10,000 to around 1,000.
90 percent of all coal mines in the province are categorized as small coal mines. Up to May 15, mining accidents this year at the province's coal mines totaled 108, resulting in 171 deaths, both indicating increases compared with the corresponding period of last year.
Among the 78 coal mines in question, 11 mines have annual production capacities of only 30,000 mt, while there are very serious safety problems at a total of 37 mines.