A statement from China’s coal mine safety administration said widespread mine closures and mergers will slash the number of coal mines in China from the current 14,000 to around 10,000 mines by 2010.

It is understood the Chinese administration wants smaller coal mines – those with production capacities of less than 300,000 tonnes – to merge with larger coal companies to improve minesite safety operations.

Thousands of Chinese miners have been killed in minesite accidents and the country has an unenviable reputation for poor mine safety, particularly at small-scale operations.

Safety concerns have been behind sweeping mine closures across China in recent years.

Media reports say more than 18,000 small coal mines had got the chop, either through merger or outright closure, by the end of last year.