China closes down 8,000 illegal mines in 2006

Source: Xinhuanet | 11-15-2006 10:32

BEIJING, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- More than 8,000 illegal mines have been closed down in the end of September in a bid to rectify China's mining industry and optimize the utilization of mineral resources, Vice Minister Wang Min of Land and Resources said here on Tuesday.

He warned at the 2006 China International Mining Conference that clamping down on illegal mines, either unlicensed or conducting unauthorized prospect and exploitation, would continue to top the agenda of the ministry in years to come.

Wang said that the utilization of mineral resources in China is "getting better" as the year's crackdown campaign was quite deterrent.

The ministry has so far detected 65,313 unlicensed mines, 4,509 unauthorized excavations, 960 unauthorized prospect and 1,365 illegal transfer of mining rights.

A regulation issued earlier this year stipulates that mine developers are liable to secure the rational utilization of mineral resources, treat damaged environment and meet safety production standards.

Mine developers will have to submit what authorities called "environment treatment rehabilitation and treatment reserve" in proportion to their sales revenue.

The specific ratio and other relevant measures are under discussion by the Ministries of Finance, Land and Resources and State Administration of Environmental Protection.

China is the world's largest producer of coal, steel, copper, aluminum and cement. Last year, it produced seven billion tons of mineral ore and generated an aggregated production value of 1.48 trillion yuan.

Over the first nine months, the production of raw coal, coke, iron ore, non-ferrous metals, phosphorite and cement all registered a double digit growth, with the iron ore growing by the highest 37.7 percent.