The mainland will close at least 10,000 dangerous small coal mines this year, six months ahead of schedule, the country's safety watchdog said.
The central government had planned to shut half of the nation's 23,000 small coal mines - operations that produce less than 300,000 tonnes of coal a year - by the middle of next year.
But, according to a speech posted on the State Administration of Work Safety's website, administration chief Li Yizhong told a national teleconference the goal would be reached by the end of this year.
Small coal mines produce a third of the mainland's coal but account for two-thirds of coal mine deaths. According to official data, 3,431 people died in accidents at small collieries last year.
The administration's figures suggest the number of coal mine accidents in the first five months of this year dropped 21.7 per cent year on year, with the number of deaths down 14 per cent. However, the number of accidents with 20 to 29 deaths rose 7.7 per cent.
'The reopening of some already-closed coal mines was behind the increased number of serious accidents,' Mr Li said.
