Putin Calls for Tighter Legislation in Russia After Latest Disaster Leaves 66 Dead and 24 Still Missing.

20 May 2010
Perth, Western Australia.

Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin has called for tighter mine safety legislation in the wake of the country’s worst mining disaster for three years. Sixty-six are currently confirmed dead, with 24 still trapped underground. Hundreds more were left injured after two massive explosions ripped through the Raspadskaya mine in western Siberia.

Speaking via video link to mine owners and local officials assembled near the mine, Putin said the current system of ensuring mine safety is broken: Funds spent on mine safety in Russia have increased nine-fold in a decade, but deaths have not declined.
"Where specifically was this money invested?" Putin asked.

Putin called for a safety watchdog directly answerable to the government with the power to shut mines and sanction managers without a court order. Payments to relatives of miners killed in accidents, which are largely voluntary, should also be specified by law.

Search operations for 24 missing miners and rescue workers have been suspended because of high methane gas levels in the mine.
The disaster is the deadliest since 110 people were killed by a methane blast at another mine in the coal-rich Kemerovo region in March 2007.
The Raspadskaya mine accounts for about 10 percent of Russia's annual coking coal output, according to analysts.

In the town where the blast took place tensions are running high, with riot police called in last Saturday to disperse miners and their families, who had blocked a railway line to protest over low pay and poor safety at the mine.

At the risk of angering the powerful miners' unions, Putin hinted that miners themselves were in part to blame for lax safety.
"Within the workforce there must be a climate of intolerance for violations of safety rules, dealing with fire, the use of alcohol and drugs -- this does happen ... and it's unacceptable.”

"Only the miners can create an atmosphere of intolerance to such violations." Regular accidents have prompted repeated calls from Russia's leaders for improvements to creaking infrastructure and stricter adherence to safety rules, but Kremlin critics say little has been done.

MineARC Systems

For more info on this media release please contact Ben Johnson, Marketing Manager, on: +61 (8) 9333 4966 or ben.johnson@minearc.com.au
END//