PM to step up mineral exploitation inspections

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has ordered that safety checks becarried out at mines and quarries in the country following a fatal disasterlast week.

Dungsaid inspectors should focus on issues relating to design, extractionprocedures and labour safety.

Officialsfrom the Ministry of Trade and Industry plan to work with representatives fromprovincial People’s Committees and city authorities when carrying out thechecks.

Dungsaid that mines and quarries found to breaking labour safety rules would be temporarilyclosed.

Meanwhile,Central Nghe An Province police yesterday decided to prosecute Phan Van Chin,the owner of Len Co quarry, for violating labour safety rules. A rockfall atthe quarry in Yen Thanh District killed 18 workers and injured six others.

Thelocal authority has received over VND1 billion (US$48,000) in donations for thevictims’ families. – VNS

Tags: Vietnam mining industry