China aims to reduce the number of factories producing explosives for civilian use to less than 200 this year to enhance production safety.

Some of the existing 290-plus factories will be merged or closed,according to the Commission of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense.

The commission also aims to cut the number of civilian explosive dealers from existing 1,700-plus to around 800 by the end of this year.

According to the commission, China had 405 factories producing explosives for civilian use in the first half of last year. Less than half of them produced more than 5,000 tons a year each.

It says small factories invest insufficiently on safety measures.

Nearly 20 civilian sectors, including mining, metallurgical, construction, water conservancy and power sectors, use explosives.

Source: Xinhua