Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region will close all coal mines with a yearly production capacity of less than 90,000 tons this year, a regional official in charge of coal mines said Sunday.

According to the regional government, 483 mines will be affected because most cannot meet the basic requirements for work safety and have a low technology level.

From 1998 to 2004, Xinjiang shut down more than 800 such coal mines. About 430 large coal mines will be maintained after completion of the industry's restructuring.

In 2004, Xinjiang's coal production reached 41.89 million tons, but on average 3.16 people died for every million tons of coal mines. After the closing of small mines, this rate is expected to fall.

China reported a total of 3,639 fatal coal mine accidents last year, causing 6,027 deaths, according to the State Administration of Work Safety.

To ensure mining safety will be one of the central government's top priorities in 2005. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao announced early this month that the government will spend this year 3 billion yuan(about 361 million US dollars) on improving mining conditions.

Source: Xinhua