China to close over 5,000 non-coal mines in 2013

BEIJING - China's safety watchdog said Wednesday it will suspend or shut down operations in over 5,000 non-coal mines that do not meet safety standards this year.

The government will take steps to reduce accidents in non-coal mines and keep the death toll below 900 this year, according to a document released Wednesday by the State Administration of Work Safety.

The administration said it will order mines to enhance safety measures, improve their emergency response mechanisms and build monitoring systems.

China's hundreds of thousands of non-coal mines, most of which are operated at a small scale with poor safety conditions, are major targets of work safety campaigns.

To further regulate the sector, the administration said it will work with related departments to create policies stipulating operating standards, including minimum operation scales.