| Funds to tighten coal mine safety |
| Last Updated(Beijing Time):2007-03-24 10:13 |
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Coal producers in Shanxi Province, which produces about a third of China's coal, started paying a "sustainable development fund" this month to benefit miners and their communities.
Approved by the State Council last year, the fund is being tested in Shanxi as a pilot program.
The fund will be spent on improving safety, accident compensation, promoting energy efficiency and developing alternative industries in mining areas.
The fund, ranging from five yuan (65 US cents) to 40 yuan per ton depending on the coal quality, is expected to rise up to 15 billion yuan annually.
"This collection may not raise coal prices since Shanxi stopped collecting the 'energy fund,' which had a similar rate, this year," Guo Yuelong, a senior official with the local branch of China Power Fuel Company.
However, coal-production costs could rise by 50 to 90 yuan per ton after the central government introduces two more funds - the mine recovery guarantee fund and the development fund for mine transition, analysts said.
"This fund will be used to build a better monitoring system for work safety, improve working conditions, protect the local environment and help mining regions develop other industries as coal reserves are exhausted," one expert said.
Li Yizhong, head of the State Administration of Work Safety, has called for the government to increase the standard compensation of 200,000 yuan per death for coal miners' families.
In 2006, coal mine accidents killed 4,746 people, down 20.1 percent from the previous year.
In one of the most recent fatal accidents, rescuers found remains of the last miner who went missing following a gas explosion last Sunday at a coal mine inside Jincheng, Shanxi Province, raising the accident death toll to 21.
The rescuers found the body on Thursday, authorities said.
Rescue work was delayed 44 hours. Authorities allege the mine owner attempted to cover up the accident, resulting in the delay of nearly two days.
Eleven people, including the pit owner and local government safety officials have been arrested.
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