Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has said it will close down all small and resource-wasting collieries in the coming five years to improve efficiency of the mining sector.

Between now and 2010, the region will also tighten safety as well as resources management at local collieries and ensure a recovery rate of at least 65 percent, said sources attending an ongoing conference on the regional population, resources and environment.

To that effect, they said the region needs to shut down or merge 85.6 percent of local small and inefficient collieries. Most of these small mines are poorly equipped, lack advanced technologies and report an average recovery rate between 15 and 25 percent.

Large mines whose annual output exceeds 300,000 tons and medium-sized ones that produce 90,000 to 300,000 tons a year account for merely 3.2 percent and 11.2 percent respectively of Xinjiang's coal pits.

In a recent document, the National Development and Reform Commission has ruled out the establishment of any new mines in Xinjiang with annual production below 150,000 tons.

(Xinhua News Agency February 13, 2006)