China has restricted grants of mining permits to curb mismanagement
and irregularities in small mines, which are thought to be the
cause of frequent mining accidents around the country.
Tian Fengshan, minister of Land and
Resources, said at a national video-telephone meeting on the
management of mining resources held here Monday, that the ministry
has just concluded a nationwide overhaul of mining management.
Since the middle of September, the ministry has sent four
investigative groups to inspect mining management in 50 counties
and townships and 40 mines in 20 provinces, autonomous regions and
municipalities.
The move was one of the remedial measures taken after a series of
serious industrial safety problems in the mining sector this year,
such as the landslide in a quarry in Leping, east China's Jiangxi
Province and the tin mine flood in Nandan, southwest China's
Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
According to the requirements of the
State Council, the authority for approving mining licenses in
localities is now done by provincial land and resources
administrative departments.
In
terms of evaluating exploration applications for the 34 different
types of mines in China, provincial land and resources authorities
should provide evaluations before applying to provincial
governments for their final project approval.
Meanwhile, local land and resources regulatory departments are
asked to cooperate with relevant government organs at various
levels to step up the supervision of mining management and to cope
with existing problems.
The ministry vowed to continue shutting down mines operating
without permits or which illegally transfer their operation rights
before the end of this year.
China now has 7,000 mining projects in operation, involving 160,000
mining companies.
He
said that if mines are found conducting illegal or random
exploration of resources, authorities will have their licenses
suspended and be given a grace period to make an appeal. Those who
fail to meet the state's operational standards by next June will
have their operation licenses canceled.
(Xinhua News
Agency November 27, 2001)