China closing nearly 5,300 coal mines

BEIJING, Jan. 4 (UPI) -- China's State Administration of Work Safety said 5,290 coal mine shafts had been closed or soon would close in a consolidation effort, a report said.

The government agency said 17,111 coal mining operations had received licenses in applications that were filed by the July 13 deadline last year.

The nearly 5,300 mines exceeded the earlier goal to close 4,000 mines, officials with the State Administration of Work Safety told China's Xinhua news agency.