China illegal mines clampdown a success

ITRI.com reports that the Chinese government is having success with a clean-up of mines, in an attempt to regulate the industry.

The story is quoted as saying:

China’s Ministry of Land and Resources announced on Tuesday that authorities in the country have found and ordered the clean-up of 284 illegal mines in an effort to regulate the exploration of valuable minerals. The number of small-scale operations producing minerals such as rare earths, tungsten, tin, and antimony was reduced to 116 from 400 in 11 provinces and regions in the country in spot checks led by teams dispatched by the ministry, a statement on its website reported by the Xinhua news agency said. The latest campaign ran over the second half of 2010 and was a continuation of long-running efforts to reduce illegal mining over several years.

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