| Xinjiang vows to quell underground coal fires(China Daily)
 Updated: 2004-11-03 10:11
 
  The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region pledged to extinguish 
underground fires in all its 35 coalfield fire areas by 2020, said the Xinjiang 
Regional Coalfield Fire Fighting Project Office.
 Surveys conducted by the office between 1995-97 showed 35 coalfield fires 
which have so far resulted in losses of 3.1 billion tons of coal in a vast area 
of 8.26 million square metres.
 The spontaneous-ignition flames in 33 fiery coalfield regions - two have 
already been put out - are devouring approximately 8 million tons of coal a 
year, the office said.
 The Liuhuanggou coalfield fire in Xinjiang has been extinguished after four 
years of efforts costing 98.72 million yuan (US$12 million).
 
 
 
  
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