A Chinese energy expert said at least 5 billion yuan (625 million US dollars) will be needed to put out current spontaneous coal seam fires in 62 coal mines nationwide, China Daily reported on Wednesday.
The bulk of the money should be used to renovate current mining technologies in large coal mines to ensure safety, said expert Guan Haiyan at a three-day International Conference on Coal Fire Research Tuesday in Beijing.
"Present methods, such as pouring water into mines and building isolation walls, always fail to prevent coal fires during the extraction of combustible seam," he said.
He said in China, the careless closing of small mines and large mined-out areas is the main cause of coal fires. This occurs when the mine is not closed properly and the coal is exposed to the air making it flammable.
Guan and his team are going to work on new mining and coal fire extinguishing methods that can use less water and stop re-combustion under a Sino-German coal fire research initiative.
Coals are inflammable substances, which are easily oxidized once exposed to air during mining, he said.
Coal fires are always the main reason behind gas explosions, dust explosions, mine collapses and water leak, all of which have resulted in a number of mine accidents in China.
Reproduction of text for non-commercial purposes is permitted
provided that both the source and author are acknowledged and
a notifying email
is sent to us.
RSS 
Home
Producer:
Xie Qiao 
Foreigners in China have to pay income tax if they earn over US$592 per month.
Golf courses and gas stations in Beijing will be under close watch.
