Bloomberg reported that China is shutting 150 small coal mines in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang because of safety concerns.

The Heilongjiang Provincial Work Safety Bureau said in a statement that the mines, which don't meet safety standards, must be closed by December 20th.

The State Administration of Coal Mine Safety said China, the world's second-biggest energy consuming country is cracking down on poorly managed, privately run mines to rein in industrial accidents. The country aims to shut 2,500 small coal mines with annual capacities of less than 300,000 metric tons each by 2010.

Mr Wang Dexue vice minister of the Administration said the country had shut 11,155 coal mines by the end of last year with a combined capacity of less than 200 million tonnes.