1,800 coal mines in N. China province resume production
( 2003-11-26 15:44) (Xinhua)
Nearly half of the coal mines
in northern China's Shanxi province resumed production after being checked over
the past three months, said an official on Tuesday.
Yan Wensheng, deputy director of the coal industry bureau in the province,
said a total of 1,838 coal mines had been checked for safety in Shanxi, which
holds nearly one third of China's coal reserves.
Statistics showed that there were altogether 4,122 coal mines, including 63
state-owned giants, 367 owned by local governments and another smaller 3,692
collieries in the province.
A number of explosions occurred because of unsafe work practices and outdated
equipment, leading to a large-scale closure of coal mines for safety
investigations.
However, the urgent need for coal in the province meant the checks had to be
sped up and coal mines reopened.
The price of coal has risen drastically since September because of serious
coal shortages of coal in many power stations, steel works and cokeries in the
province.
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