China further strengthens administrative safety licensing for non-coal mines

China will further strengthen the administrative licensing for safe production at non-coal mines, according to a notice issued by the National Mine Safety Administration.

The National Mine Safety Administration will be responsible for reviewing the design (including major upgrade) of safety facilities for rare earth mine development project, uranium mine construction project, iron ore mine project with measured industrial reserve of no less than 50 million tonnes, new or expansion underground metal/non-metal mine construction project with annual production capacity of more than 3 million tonnes or maximum vertical mining depth of no less than 1,000 meters, open-pit metal/non-metal mine construction project with annual production capacity of no less than 10 million tonnes or slope height of 200 meters and above, as well as tailings pond with total capacity of 100 million cubic meters.

Provincial-level emergency management departments will be responsible for reviewing the design of safety facilities for other underground mine, open-pit mine with slope height of no less than 150 meters, and tailings pond projects.

The safety licence for metal/non-metal underground mine, open-pit mine with slope height of 200 meters and above, tailing ponds and non-coal mines owned by enterprises under the central government will be awarded by provincial-level emergency management departments.