The National Coal Mine Safety Administration ("NCMSA") has recently formulated and issued the Detailed Rules for Prevention and Control of Coal and Gas Outburst (the "Rules"), with effect from October 1, 2019.
Main contents of the Rules include general provisions, general requirements, integrated anti-outburst measures for certain regions, integrated anti-outburst measures for certain parts, measures for prevention and control of rock and carbon dioxide (gas) outburst, and supplementary provisions. The Rules state that principals of coal mine enterprises and coal mine managers are the person bearing the primary responsibility for the entity's work on prevention and control of coal and gas outburst. Coal mine enterprises whose coal mines come across such outburst, and coal mines involved in such outburst, shall set up the anti-outburst department and establish and improve the anti-outburst management system and the post-based responsibility system. Coal mines involved in outburst should set up the early warning mechanism for potential outburst, and gradually make it possible to issue early warnings of, give quick responses to, and effectively deal with, various information on omens of outburst, unusual situations of gas and geological status, and impacts of mining. Meanwhile, the Rules state that coal mine enterprises, coal mines and scientific research institutes are encouraged to carry out research into, test and promote the application of, innovative technologies and new equipment, techniques and materials for outburst prevention.