115 miners were rescued from a flooded mine after spending a week underground.  Thirty-eight remain trapped – now assumed dead.  There was extensive press coverage of the rescue work on the front pages of papers this week.  Two thirds of electricity in China is generated by coal.  The rapid rate of urbanisation is creating pressure for more electricity.  In 1980, 191 million people lived in cities in China compared to 595 million by 2007.  In 1949 China had 69 cities.  In 2007 the number of cities had grown to 670.  6,000 people die on average per year in Chinese mines.

Takeaway

• There is an increased focus on worker safety in China. In previous disasters the sophisticated tunnelling techniques to aid rescue have not been apparent.
• Alternative energy technology transfer to China is an issue of universal values.
• Foreign companies with experience in improving work health and safety should work more closely with their Chinese counterparts. The media will provide the market reward.