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Article

29 Nov 2016

Author:
Chuin-Wei Yap, Wall Street Journal (USA)

China Warns of Safety Risks as Rally in Coal Price Spurs Mining

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…[I]nformal data have shown sharp increases in colliery casualties this year, with November the deadliest month so far…22 workers were trapped when a shaft caved in at Qitaihe City Jingyou Coal Mine…a coal-mine fire in neighboring Liaoning province killed 26 miners.

The Work Safety Committee of the State Council, a government agency, also said it would step up surprise inspections, including at night, to counter “illegal practices” at mines that put lives at risk…[T]he work-safety committee… said the miners had crossed into prohibited areas to dig for coal, which led to an excessive accumulation of combustible gas. The committee also warned that the yearlong price rally had triggered a “strong rush” into closed mines to revive production, risking more accidents.

“All jurisdictions have to crack down on illegal practices at coal mines such as fake closures and fake blueprints, and mines that say they’re shutting down in the daytime only to restart production at night,” the committee said…