China's Guizhou to phase out small coal mines in 2020

Southwest China's Guizhou Province has vowed to shut down small coal mines with an annual production of less than 300,000 tonnes in 2020, in an effort to phase out outdated mining capacity, local authorities said.

The province will also upgrade technology in other coal mines, as it pushes to upgrade the entire industry this year, authorities said at a local emergency management work meeting.

Guizhou previously halted production of coal mines with an annual production of less than 300,000 tonnes after 16 miners were killed in a coal and gas burst on Dec. 17, and ordered inspections and examinations on gas levels at larger mines.

A document on phasing out the smaller mines released afterward requires that municipal and county governments conduct technological upgrades on existing mines to improve capacity to offset the loss brought by the shutdown.