The State Specialized Inspection Agency and the Nalaikh district
inspection office conducted a joint inspection of the underground coal
mines in Nalaikh district, suspending mining operation of 185 mines
temporarily.

Only 28 out of over 200 underground coal mines that run mining
operations in Nalaikh district have licenses. Almost 1500 miners work in
the coal mines in Nalaikh district but accidents occur often because
labor security and working conditions are poor. The State Specialized
Inspection Agency suspended coal mine operations temporarily in order
for the mines to improve the labor security, environmental restoration
and working conditions.

Over the past decade it has been estimated that over 200 miners have died and numerous injuries have been caused in the mines.