China's National Mine Safety Administration (NMSA) pledged to tighten safety inspections and crack down on illegal mining practices as the fourth quarter — historically a peak period for mine accidents — approaches.

The administration warned that high commodity prices, peak coal consumption and year-end production rushing are creating a severe and complex safety environment for mines, according to a statement following a party group meeting on September 28.

The NMSA called for treating major hazard control as the top priority in preventing catastrophic accidents, urging mine operators to fulfill safety responsibilities and regulators to conduct on-site inspections at the grassroots level.

Authorities will strictly investigate and punish illegal outsourcing, subcontracting and the use of dispatched laborers, ordering violators to suspend production and expel non-compliant contractor teams.

The administration said it would maintain a high-pressure stance against illegal activities, including hidden working faces, falsified safety monitoring systems, miners entering shafts without tracking cards, illegal subcontracting and "single-wall" mining.

It also vowed to guard against safety risks arising from fluctuations in mineral prices, and to crack down on production exceeding approved capacity, intensity or staffing limits, as well as equipment operating in poor condition.

The NMSA stressed efforts to ensure safe and stable coal supply by facilitating the compliant release of high-quality coal production capacity.

Mine operators were urged to improve safety management systems, strengthen training and strictly punish unauthorized command, operations and violations of labor discipline.

During the National Day holiday, mines were told to report hazards immediately upon discovery and take swift action to contain risks.