China plans to close 6,000 mines

China will close 6,000 non-coal mines by 2020 in an effort to reduce accidents and fatalities, the State Occupational Safety Administration said in a five-year plan.

Beijing will aim to reduce major accidents by 15 percent by 2020 from 2015 levels in the sector, the occupational safety statement said in a statement. More than 500 people died in non-coal mining accidents in 2015. Since 2010, duties have fallen by more than 50 percent.

“While mining companies are undergoing transformation, some of them do not have sufficient funding and manpower to ensure the safety of their mines, which remains a major safety risk,” the statement said.

Under this plan, China will improve safety legislation and intensify mine inspections.