Heilongjiang and coal

From Global Energy Monitor

Coal plants in Heilongjiang

For a full list and map of all coal plants in Heilongjiang Province, China, go to CoalSwarm's Global Coal Plant Tracker and choose Region East Asia, Map China - Heilongjiang.

History

Anhui’s province has reported to 768,000 million tonnes of coal reserves, according to China Coal Resource.[1] Coal, gold, and graphite are other important minerals to be found in Heilongjiang. The region is about 460,000 square kilometers (180,000 square miles.) It has a population of 8,312,224 as of 2010 census.[2]

Economy

In 2011, Heilongjiang's nominal GDP was 1,250 billion yuan (US$198.5 billion), an annual growth rate of 12.2%. Its per capita GDP was 21,640 yuan (US$3,168). Its primary, secondary, and tertiary industries were worth 108.9 billion yuan, 436.6 billion yuan, and 285.5 billion yuan respectively.[3] The per capita disposable income of urban residents in Heilongjiang reached 11,581 yuan (US$1,667), a rise of 13% from the previous year. The per capita net income of rural residents in the province reached 4,856 yuan (US$700), a rise of 17.5 from 2007.[4]

Coal Mining Accidents

November 2009: Heilongjiang mine explosion killing 108.

The 2009 Heilongjiang mine explosion was a mining accident that occurred on November 21, 2009 near Hegang in Heilongjiang province, northeastern China. The explosion itself, a preliminary investigation concluded, was caused by trapped, pressurised gases underground, caused by poor ventilation in the mine shaft. The blast was powerful enough that it was felt six miles away. Many nearby buildings were damaged, including one next to the mine whose roof was blown off. The director of Hegang General hospital, where the injured were being treated, told Chinese state media that "most of the injured are suffering from compound injuries, such as respiratory injuries, broken bones and gas poisoning". 108 people were confirmed dead.[5] A further 29 were hospitalised.[6][7] The explosion occurred in the Xinxing coal mine shortly before dawn, at 02:30 CST, when 528 people were believed to be in the pit. Of these, 420 are believed to have been rescued.[8]

Citizen action, protests, and repression

November 2009: China families protest mine disaster

Relatives of miners killed by a gas blast in Heilongjiang and demanded answers from the owners on Monday, Novermber 23rd, 2009 as the fatality rate reached 204 people. They hoped to find more survivors. This protest came a day after 11 miners were killed in a blast in the southern province of Hunan. China has the world’s deadliest coal-mining industry, killing more than 3,000 people in mine floods, explosions, collapses and other accidents said a 2008 census. The day of the explosion, a gas detector had shown levels five times the trigger for an evacuation and the mine operators had failed to evacuate the mine. Around a dozen relatives of the workers gathered in the freezing temperatures to complain about that lack of information on the mine’s eneternce. One woman shouted "None of the officials have died, all of the dead are the workers, Not one of those officials has even been down into that mine." The protesters were taken inside the mine compound, put into large white vans or were stopped from speaking to reporters. This particular coal mine is owned by Heilongjiang Longmei Mining Holding Group, making it larger than most operations where accidents occur.[9]

Articles and resources

References

  1. [ http://en.sxcoal.com/57611/NewsShow.html, " Heilongjiang Apr coal output up 20 pct YoY"] China Coal Resource, June, 2011.
  2. "Anhui" Encyclopedia Britannica, July, 2013.
  3. NE China province reports record GDP growth
  4. 2006年黑龙江省农民人均收入达3552元 增长10.3%
  5. "Mine Explosion Killed 108" (in Chinese). Sina.com. 27 November 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2009.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  6. Bradsher, Keith (22 November 2009). "At least 87 dies in Chinese mine explosion". New York: New York Times. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  7. "At least 89 killed in coal mine blast". USA: Statesman.com. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 22 November 2009.
  8. Maxim Duncans, " Reuters, November 23, 2009.
  9. Maxim Duncans, " Reuters, November 23, 2009.

Related GEM.wiki articles

External resources

External articles