Eight hundred thirty six officials and managers from state-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Shanxi have relinquished colliery investments since the State Council's order requiring all officials and SOE managers to do so by September 22, Xinhua News Agency reported today.

It quoted the government of north China's Shanxi Province, a major coal producing region, as saying the investments were worth over 40 million yuan (US$5 million).

Up to September 30, reports from 11 Shanxi cities said 922 officials and SOE leaders were involved in coal mine businesses, with a total investment of over 92 million yuan (US$11 million).

Issued on August 30 against a backdrop of frequent and severe coal mine accidents, the State Council order said officials who refused to surrender their investments would be removed from their posts.

It aimed to improve work safety by combating collusion between mine owners and local officials.

Li Yizhong, director of the National Bureau of Production Safety Supervision and Administration, said coal mines owned or part-owned by local officials escaped inspection and became "black holes devouring miners' lives."

China recorded around 2,700 mining fatalities in the first half of 2005, 3 percent up on the same period last year. The 24 deadliest accidents claimed a total of 704 lives, a year-on-year increase of 114 percent.

In the first seven months, Shanxi witnessed 90 coal mine accidents, in which 316 lives were lost. The six most deadly accidents occurred at illegally operated collieries, claiming 183 lives.

Investigations into these accidents found that some officials collaborated with mine owners to shield illegal operations.

National figures are expected to be released sometime this month.

(Xinhua News Agency October 18, 2005)