China struggles for safe mining
china's mining industry has once again maintained its dubious distinction as the world's deadliest. In end August 2005, government officials announced that over 7,000 coalmines, nearly a third of the country's total, will be closed by 2005 end, pending safety checks. Nearly 3,300 mines workers had died in accidents this year by mid-August. In view of the history of weak local implementation, the government has even started dynamiting some mines to prevent owners from resuming operations.
Previous attempts to strengthen safety protocols have been undercut due to collusion between mine owners and local officials. Now, Beijing has ordered all government members to withdraw from any coalmining investments. If illegal mines are found operating in a place, officials concerned could be dismissed. In a sharp departure from the past, Shanxi province, China's largest coal producer, has also promised cash rewards and confidentiality for whistleblowers, who disclose safety violations.
However, many remain doubtful about the effectiveness of the new push and point out that most of the 7,000 mines were already operating without licenses and regulating them would not be easy. Three days after the new regulation was enforced, a gas explosion killed 17 workers in a Shanxi mine that had already been ordered closed. Because most mines listed for shutdown are small, old, and produce poorly, environmentalists also doubt that the move will do much to wean China from its coal dependency. Despite its recent turn towards sustainable energy sources, the country still gets 70 per cent of its power from coal-fired plants.
But at the national level, Beijing has started viewing coal as a real problem, says Jennifer Turner, coordinator of us-based China Environment Forum. She emphasises that the current push follows an important renewable energies bill passed earlier this year. "The World Bank says that pollution in general in China costs it eight per cent of its gdp and coal is a major source of that pollution.' Sulphur dioxide problems currently affect two-thirds of the country.
Operating small coalmines is feasible in China due to a surplus of poor workers. Liu Kaiming, a labour researcher in Guangdong, says most workers are poor migrants with few options and the move will create problems, as "the government has no policy or budget to re-employ them'. Turner warns they will now be driven to eastern cities, increasing the energy needs of the already stressed urban areas.