In 2021, there were 356 accidents in Chinese mines, resulting in 503 deaths.

Data released by China's State Administration of Work Safety on the 14th showed that in 2021, a total of 356 mine accidents and 503 deaths occurred in China, representing year-on-year decreases of 16% and 12.7%, respectively.

On the same day, the Ministry of Emergency Management held a regular press conference, where Zhang Xin, Deputy Director of the State Administration of Work Safety, briefed on the safety situation in mines.

Zhang Xin stated that in 2021, despite the unprecedentedly complex and severe situation of the COVID-19 pandemic, high coal prices, high coal production, and the heavy task of ensuring coal supply, the national mine safety situation continued to steadily improve. A total of 356 mine accidents and 503 deaths occurred nationwide, representing year-on-year decreases of 16% and 12.7%, respectively. Last year, national coal production reached a record high of 4.13 billion tons, a year-on-year increase of 5.7%. There were 91 coal mine accidents and 178 deaths, representing year-on-year decreases of 26% and 21.9%, respectively. The death rate per million tons of coal production fell to 0.044, a year-on-year decrease of 24%.

Zhang Xin stated that to ensure safe production in mines, the Ministry of Emergency Management has stepped up safety rectification efforts, organized multiple special inspections, regularly conducted mine accident and risk analysis and assessments, issued timely warning information, and precisely mitigated a number of major disaster risks. At the same time, supervision and law enforcement were strengthened. Throughout the year, over 97,000 mine inspections were conducted, and 1,649 major hidden dangers were investigated and addressed.

In recent years, China has accelerated the development of intelligent mines. According to official statistics, there are now 813 intelligent mining faces nationwide, a 65% increase compared to 2020. Thanks to intelligent development, the number of underground coal mine workers has decreased by a total of 370,000 since 2016.

Zhang Xin stated that the overall safety situation in mines nationwide has been stable since the beginning of this year. From January to February, there were 25 mine accidents and 40 deaths, representing year-on-year decreases of 46.8% and 43.7%, respectively.

"However, the safety and production situation in mines remains severe and complex. In 2021, there were 356 accidents in Chinese mines, resulting in 503 deaths. We face risks and challenges brought about by persistently high mineral product prices, relatively concentrated resumption of work and production, increasingly severe major disasters, and tight mining and excavation continuity. Recent accidents in Guizhou, Yunnan, and other places have exposed persistent violations of laws and regulations in some regions and enterprises, inadequate implementation of corporate responsibilities, weak safety foundations, and insufficient regulatory and supervisory capabilities. These problems remain prominent and urgently need to be addressed." Zhang Xin stated that the State Administration of Mine Safety will focus on improving regulatory and supervisory mechanisms, strictly and accurately enforcing laws and regulations, and focusing on preventing and resolving major safety risks to ensure a stable safety and production situation. (China News Network)