China yesterday ordered 5,290 coal mines across the mainland to suspend operation to undergo safety checks since the facilities hadn't applied for a safety license.

The central government will close down those mines that do not pass safety inspection before an unspecified deadline, Li Yizhong, director of the State Administration of Work Safety, said yesterday.

Relatedly, Vice Premier Zeng Peiyan yesterday vowed to reform the coal industry by establishing large coal groups with better safety equipment, instead of scattered small shafts with poor safety standards.

Zeng was speaking at a national meeting held in Beijing to improve the country's coal industry, which is enjoying a high-speed production growth while suffering rampant gas blasts.

In the first six months this year, accidents at coal mines have killed 2,672 miners, up 3.3 percent year-on-year.

"We should establish some large coal bases which have good cooperation with transportation systems and power plants," said Zeng.

He also called for more investment in upgrading coal mine equipment to save resources and avoid accidents.

He said the coal industry should abandon outdated mining methods which are costly and cause heavy environmental pollution while small mines with poor safety standards should be shut down.

(Shanghai Daily, Xinhua News Agency July 22, 2005)