China Plans to Shut Down 2,000 Coal Mines Next Year in Effort to Reduce Pollution

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China has stepped up efforts to reduce the number of coal mines, as it plans to shut down more than 2,000 mines next year and limit the number to within 10,000 by 2016.

More than 1,100 coal mines were closed this year to eliminate outdated capacity, according to a report by a top work safety watchdog.

Yang Dongliang, head of the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety, said that the general situation this year is satisfactory and the number of major workplace accidents has been greatly reduced.

The shutdown plan aims at improving work safety at mines and reducing pollution.

Last month, a fire at a coal mine of State-owned Liaoning Fuxin Coal Corp claimed 28 lives and injured 50 people.

In June, 11 workers died and eight were injured in a gas explosion in a coal mine of Guizhou Hualong Coal Industry in Guizhou province. The company is a joint venture between a local coal firm and Hong Kong-listed China Resources Power Holdings.

Small coal mines are more prone to accidents and their outdated facilities have been criticized for low efficiency and causing pollutants. All coal mines with annual production capacity of less than 90,000 metric tons are required to be gradually closed, as well as those mines that are operating illegally and do not comply with State safety requirements.