Central Safety Inspections Uncover Critical Violations at Chongqing Mine
Published on 08/14/2026 at 13:17 | Redaktion boerse-global.de
China's central safety inspection teams have identified serious operational violations at an open-pit mine in Chongqing, including illegal extraction methods that created unstable slopes dangerously close to residential housing. The findings come as authorities continue investigating a devastating gas explosion at a Shanxi coal mine that has claimed 82 lives, underscoring the scale of workplace-safety challenges facing the country's industrial sectors.
Illegal Mining Methods in Chongqing
During an inspection of the Yongchuan District site on June 24, 2026, the second central safety inspection group discovered the facility was using a prohibited "one-face wall" extraction method. The technique resulted in slope angles exceeding 60 degrees, with vertical drops reaching nearly 30 metres at some points and recorded depths of up to 32 metres.
The inspection team noted that residential housing stood only 34 metres from the edge of the unstable slope. Tang Hongqiang, the head of the enterprise, acknowledged awareness of the hazards associated with these operations.
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Aftermath of the Liushenyu Coal Mine Explosion
The Chongqing findings follow a major industrial disaster in Shanxi province. On May 22, 2026, at approximately 19:29, a gas explosion occurred at the Liushenyu coal mine in Qinhe County, Changzhi. At the time of the blast, 247 miners were working underground.
Recent reports confirm 82 fatalities and 128 injuries, with several individuals still missing. The explosion has prompted a comprehensive "dragnet" inspection of the coal mining sector, announced at a press conference on May 23, focusing on gas drainage, monitoring systems, and ventilation integrity.
The Supreme People's Procuratorate announced on May 25 that it would supervise the investigation to ensure those responsible are held accountable.
Records indicate the Liushenyu mine operator had been penalized six times since 2017, with fines totalling 515,800 yuan. Notable violations included the unauthorized use of forest land in 2023, and the facility had been officially categorized as a high-gas-risk mine in 2024.
National Oversight and Regional Feedback
The 24 inspection teams have been conducting both announced and unannounced visits across China since June, covering 31 provinces and regions throughout the second and third quarters of the year. Between July 24 and August 7, 2026, the fourth inspection group conducted a review in Jiangxi province, where team leader Ling Zhifeng provided feedback on safety failures to provincial authorities. Provincial Secretary Yin Hong committed to immediate rectifications and the transfer of violation leads to disciplinary bodies.
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Beyond the mining sector, the inspections have highlighted significant risks in the construction industry. Investigators recently identified crane safety failures at a project in Guizhou and foundation instability involving scaffolding at a site in Urumqi, Xinjiang.
The State Council Safety Committee has also addressed falsified records and construction deviations related to a highway bridge collapse in Shaanxi that resulted in 62 people dead or missing.
