China Reveals Closure Of 3,550 Illegal Coal Mines In Shanxi Province
February 18, 2007 Filed Under: Coal Mining, Mining Services
Saturday, China revealed closing down over 3,550 illegal coal mines in its largest coal producing region, the Shanxi Province. Combined with the closure of illegal coal mines, 2,517 other natural resources illegal mines were also shut down last year, according to Zhang Huaiwen, Director, Shanxi Provincial Department of Land and Resources. Huaiwen said, At least 196 people were “punished for violating Party and government disciplines and 198 others punished on criminal charges.” About 476 people were killed in coalmine-related accidents in the Shanxi Province last year, as per statistics provided by the provincial Coal Bureau.
China is one of the largest coal producer and consumer in the world, producing over 2.1 billion tons of coal in 2005, a quarter of it coming from the Shanxi Province.
