Currently, 27 coal mines in Changzhi are shut down, with a total capacity of 34.7 million tons. On May 25th, Changzhi issued an emergency notice regarding a special campaign to crack down on serious violations of coal mine safety regulations, focusing on issues such as concealed working faces and mining beyond permitted boundaries. Except for some state-owned coal mines, most coking coal mines in the region are in a state of self-inspection and shutdown.
Besides Changzhi, the area with the most severe shutdowns is Jinzhong City. Currently, coal mines in Pingyao, Jiexiu, and Lingshi in Jinzhong City are still in a state of self-inspection and shutdown, totaling 38 mines, affecting a capacity of 35.7 million tons. Initially, mines reported that the shutdown period was expected to be 3-5 days, but the latest survey results show that the mines have not yet specified a resumption date, and some mines have planned to suspend production until early June.
Since May 23rd, Linfen has added 37 newly shut-down coal mines. Currently, 4 mines have resumed production, with a total capacity of 6.6 million tons, while 33 mines remain shut down, with a total capacity of 38.1 million tons. The shutdown has expanded from Puxian and Xiangning counties to Guxian and Anze counties, with no clear resumption date yet.
The resumption of production at coal mines in Lüliang is progressing relatively well. Since the 23rd, a total of 19 newly shut-down coal mines in Lüliang have resumed production, with 12 already back in operation, producing 14.1 million tons of capacity. Only 7 mines remain shut down, with a total capacity of 9.9 million tons.
In Taiyuan, 8 newly shut-down coal mines have a total capacity of 6.6 million tons. Safety supervision is most stringent in Gujiao. Local private mines and local coal mines are basically shut down. Even those that are operating are required to operate on single shifts, resulting in a significant decline in output. There is currently no clear resumption date, and pessimistically, the shutdown is expected to last about one month.
Besides Shanxi, coal mines in Shaanxi and Henan provinces have also suspended production due to self-inspection. However, self-inspection in Yan'an and other areas has largely concluded, and except for a few mines shut down due to geological conditions, most have resumed normal production. Currently, most coal mines in Shanxi are shut down primarily for self-inspection and rectification, and the shut-down mines are mainly privately owned. Most mines indicated that the resumption time is unclear. Even if production resumes later, under the intense safety supervision, it will take time for output to recover. Operating mines also reported conducting self-inspections and rectification, but production is proceeding cautiously and conservatively, resulting in a slight decline in output.
