Xinhua reported citing top official of the State Administration of Work Safety said the Chinese government has decided to close hundreds of small mines over the year to ensure safety in the coal mining industry.

Mr Yang Dongliang head of the SAWS said at least 625 small coal mines will be shut before the year end as the current excess supplies as well as slowing demand is providing good opportunity to intensify our crackdown on small coal mines and eliminate outdated mines.

He said specifying the places, Hunan, Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan provinces are the places where many small mines will be closed. Calling for efforts to actively promote the merging and integration of coal producers to improve efficiency, he said scientific management should be implemented in coal-producing enterprises and production structures should be improved.

According to the National Energy Administration the shutdown would affect a total production capacity of 23.47 million tonnes per year.

Source - Xinhua

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