Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, January 28. The National Energy Administration announced on the 28th that in 2016, it will actively promote the merger and reorganization of coal mining enterprises and eliminate outdated production capacity, and speed up the closure and exit of coal mines that have serious disasters, do not have the conditions for safe production, and have no hope of turning losses into long-term losses.

According to the information released on the website of the National Energy Administration on the 28th, the thirteenth meeting of the Inter-ministerial Coordination Leading Group for Coal Mine Gas Prevention and Control was held in Beijing on the same day. The meeting disclosed that in 2015, there were 45 gas accidents in coal mines nationwide, resulting in 171 deaths, a year-on-year decrease of 4 and 101, a decrease of 8.2% and 37.1% respectively.

The meeting pointed out that although coal mine gas accidents have dropped significantly year by year in recent years, the total number of accidents is still relatively large, major gas accidents have not been effectively contained, illegal and illegal production of mine gas accidents frequently occurs, and the situation of coal mine gas prevention and control is still grim. Coal enterprises generally suffer losses, and some enterprises control costs by reducing safety investment and compressing gas treatment time, burying potential safety hazards.

Data show that in 2015, the national coalbed methane (coal mine gas) drainage volume was 18 billion cubic meters, and the utilization volume was 8.6 billion cubic meters, an increase of 5.5% and 11.5% year-on-year respectively. The coalbed methane industry is still in its infancy, with small scale and low utilization rate. The contradictions and problems that restrict development need to be solved urgently.

The meeting also proposed that in 2016, all regions and departments should fully implement various measures for coal mine gas prevention and control, strive to curb a particularly major gas accident with more than 30 deaths, and strive to reduce a major gas accident with more than 10 deaths. The number of fatalities in accidents decreased by more than 10% year-on-year; the drainage volume of coalbed methane (coal mine gas) was 19 billion cubic meters, and the utilization volume was 9.2 billion cubic meters.

Article source: Xinhuanet