All-round measures for coal mine safety
China Daily  Updated: 2005-03-14 06:30

The fact that Premier Wen Jiabao contributed a long paragraph to workplace safety in his condensed report to this year's session of the National People's Congress, which ends today in Beijing, reveals how vital it is that China reduces the number of accidents.

Last year, the overall number of workplace casualties was 136,755, with 6,027 deaths in coal mine accidents.

Numbers count, especially when they are related to human losses.

In his keynote report, the premier put a special emphasis on the notorious coal mining industry, which saw three major accidents with a total death toll of more than 500 late last year.

He promised to pour 3 billion yuan (US$361.4 million) into the sector this year to hone safety equipment in key State coal mines. Local governments and enterprises are also required to improve safety.

Wen's promise deserves loud applause because it is high time that conditions in working mines were improved.

We hope that his promise will be honoured, and local authorities and mine owners will support the central government's resolution with money, determination and respect for the miners.

A reduction in coal prices in the 1990s has brought many mine owners to the verge of bankruptcy, so they do not have enough money for safety expenses. It is estimated that up to 50 billion yuan (US$6 billion) should have been spent on safety in State-owned mines alone nationwide.

The central authorities' resolve to stop miners from being unnecessarily killed is not confined to increasing investment.

One week after the Sunjiawan coal mine blast, which killed more than 210 in Northeast China's Liaoning Province on February 14, the State Council suspended the post of a Liaoning vice-governor in charge of safety.

That showed the central government would not tolerate such serious accidents anymore. Those who are in charge must be held accountable.

Meanwhile, the State Council has also elevated the State Administration of Work Safety, making it a cabinet-level department to strengthen its authority.

Two weeks after the Sunjiawan accident, Li Yizhong, former head of the State-asset supervision body famed for an iron-handed working style, was named minister of the State work safety administration.

Li obviously carries the hopes of the central leadership on his shoulders. The public's high expectations are also on him.

The reshuffling moves will hopefully reduce the death toll in coal mine accidents. As the country endeavours to build a harmonious society, improved workplace safety is imperative.

Efforts to improve workplace safety, however, mean more than administrative reshuffling.

As market demand for coal grows and prices soar, coal mine owners' incessant desire to excavate more coal for profit has put increasing pressure on regulations.

Coal mines need to pass work safety examinations before their licences are granted. Those in operation where big accidents take place will be ordered to plug loopholes in safety measures before resuming production.

The State requires enterprises to put aside funds for work safety. And compensation for deaths has been raised up to 200,000 yuan (US$24,100), four times the previous cap.

The effect of all these measures hinges on effective implementation.

From a wider perspective, the solution of coal production safety also depends on a shift in China's overall energy strategy.

As oil remains expensive, it is not in China's interest to increase dependence on traditional resources. Development of other resources, such as bio-diesel, wind power and methane, can be choices.

Coal gasification, whereby coal is converted to combustible gases underground, which are then pumped up and purified for industrial use, is especially important for China, as its geological structure means there is dangerous amounts of gas in the coal.

The new technology will improve fuel efficiency and reduce fatal accidents though technological bottlenecks or high costs mean its application will not be an instant success.

While highlighting safety in mines, the government needs to put more cash into studying important technologies.

By tackling the issue of workplace safety in an all-round way, we will hopefully see fewer coal mine tragedies.

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