A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, China, has left at least 80 people dead and dozens more trapped underground. Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities deal with toxic levels of carbon monoxide in the mine shafts.
A gas explosion at the Liushenyu coal mine in Shanxi province, China, has left at least 80 people dead and dozens more trapped underground. Rescue operations are ongoing as authorities deal with toxic levels of carbon monoxide in the mine shafts.
Log in to join the discussion
Another massive failure in Shanxi. The human cost of keeping these old coal assets running is staggering. This is why the push for a faster transition to renewables is not just about carbon, but basic safety.
The article mentions safety protocols are often lax. That usually means the cost of compliance is higher than the cost of the occasional fine. Until the regulatory penalty for a disaster outweighs the profit of cutting corners, these blasts will keep happening.
China keeps adding coal capacity to ensure grid stability, but these operational risks are a huge liability. I wonder how many of these mines are being pushed beyond their safe capacity to meet short term energy quotas.
Exactly. It is the classic trade off between reliability and risk. If they actually invested the same capital into long duration storage and grid upgrades, they would not be so dependent on these death traps.