The Conference on South African Coal Mining Safety Technology
and Equipment was held in Beijing yesterday to give Chinese coal
mine production personnel an opportunity to learn from their South
African counterparts.
"Our mining safety technology and equipment have been sold to
countries such as the US and Australia. We hope that our
cooperation with China can help improve the working conditions of
Chinese coal mine workers," said Mthokozisi Zondi, deputy chief
inspector of mines of South Africa's Department of Minerals and
Energy.
At the conference, experts in the coal mining industry from
South Africa showcased their technology and equipment in mining
safety and shared their expertise and experience in coal mine
management.
In the days of apartheid, black miners in South Africa lived and
worked in dangerous conditions, but Wang Shuhe, deputy director of
the State Administration of Coal Mine Safety (SACMS), said the
mining safety is now well developed there, so China could learn
much from it.
According to Gu Tao, senior engineer at the SACMS' Communication
and Information Center, cooperation between China and South Africa
in the coal mine industry has a long history, and China has bought
over 40 sets of mining communication equipment from there so
far.
According to Kuang Mahua, deputy division chief of the
Department of Regulations and Liaison, the State Administration of
Foreign Experts Affairs, trade of technology has become the main
technology communication mode between China and other
countries.
"China's coal mine safety improvement efforts have provided a
big market for the world. This conference is only a start. We will
hold more such communications between China and countries advanced
in coal mine safety technology and management experience such as
Australia in the future," he said.
Coal is the major energy resource in China, covering 67 percent
in the country's consumption structure of all primary energy
resources. From January to September this year, the total number of
coal mine accident was 2,337, with 4,228 people dead. To October
10, there were 43 major accidents this year involving more than 10
deaths at one time.
(Xinhua News Agency October 14, 2005)