Mining regulators in China are citing a promotion of mine and miner safety across the country for reduction in accidents and fatalities last year, all as coal output continues to rise. 

National Mine Safety Administration deputy head Zhang Xin told China Daily that coal production is reaching a record high, but “the production safety situation in the country's mining sector has been stable with continuous improvement,” as proven by whole-year numbers for 2021.

Xin said there were a total of 356 accidents nationwide last year, down year-on-year to the tune of 16%. Fatalities also fell by 12.7% to 503.

He said the increase in coal output and COVID-19 both created a need for safe production, which is when the decreases were recorded. At the same time, the administration offered mines one-on-one consulting and ordered corporations to dispatch special teams for improved safety management. 

In the meantime, coal production in China last year was a record 4.1 billion metric tons, up 5.7% over the previous year. He said the country during that time was working to address soaring coal prices.

Even though production was up, Zhang told the news service that the Chinese death rate for every 1 million tons of coal produced dropped by 24% versus 2021 to 0.044. Output was additionally helped along with 207 temporary production expansions at coal operations over the year, which added about 110 million tonnes.

The administration said it still plans to dispatch officers from other areas for law enforcement and also to perform surprise inspections. Another staffer told China Daily it will promote the application of intelligent facilities in mining for greater safety as well.

Wang Duanwu, director general of law, regulation, science and technology at the administration, added that significant progress has been made in constructing a monitoring and early warning system. All of the country’s 2,611 coal mines now in operation have been incorporated into the system.

Source: China Daily