DATONG, LA PLUS IMPORTANTE VILLE MINIERE EN CHINE La Chine devrait, d’ici 2010, devenir le premier émetteur de gaz à effet de serre dans le monde. Avec la croissance économique de la Chine accouplée à son besoin grandissant d’énergie, le pays passerait devant les Etats-Unis plus tôt que prévu, selon des responsables de l'Agence internationale de l'énergie (AIE) cités par le Financial Times. L'explosion des émissions de gaz en Chine est, en partie, le résultat d'une forte dépendance au charbon pour produire de l'électricité. 70% de l'électricité chinoise provient de centrales thermiques fonctionnant au charbon. Située à 280 kilomètres à l’ouest de Pékin, la ville de Datong est connue pour donner un prolongement industriel au bassin charbonnier – le plus important en Chine – dont elle est le centre principal. On dénombre 500 000 mineurs employés dans la région. Beaucoup vivent et travaillent dans les immenses cités minières qui regroupent jusqu’à 40 000 habitants pour la plus grande. D’autres travaillent aussi dans des dizaines de milliers de petites mines privées, souvent illégales aux conditions de sécurité précaire. En 2006, les accidents miniers ont fait plus de 4 700 morts en Chine. Selon d’autres chiffres non-officiels, on parle jusqu’à 10 000 morts par an. Reportage sur cinq séjours entre 2002 et 2006.
Vue sur la place de la gare de Datong. Il fait moins 30 degrés.
LIR0144120 © René Limbourg
"Let's unite in the struggle. Let's work hard." Billboard in a coal-mining city
LIR0144208 © René Limbourg
Worker in mine number 9 in Datong.
LIR0144220 © René Limbourg
Miner statue in the mine number one in Datong.
LIR0144135 © René Limbourg
A worker in front of his mine.
LIR0144084 © René Limbourg
Mine d'état numéro 9 de Datong.
LIR0144013 © René Limbourg
6.30 am. Mine number 1 in Datong. The miner changes his clothes and put them in a bundle before working.
LIR0144178 © René Limbourg
Mine number 1 in datong. Miners are ready to work.
LIR0144202 © René Limbourg
7.00 am. Mine number 1 in Datong. A miner is waiting outside to get down to the mine.
LIR0144203 © René Limbourg
Break for women workers
LIR0144010 © René Limbourg
Mine number 1 in Datong. Miners are in the lift.
LIR0144200 © René Limbourg
Mine number 1 in Datong. Miners are in the lift.
LIR0144201 © René Limbourg
Mine number one in Datong. Machine room.
LIR0144177 © René Limbourg
Une femme fait le tri du charbon.
LIR0145717 © René Limbourg
Women workers on conveyor belt. They earn 700 kuais (80 US$) per month
LIR0144210 © René Limbourg
Women workers on conveyor belt. They earn 700 kuais (80 US$) per month.
LIR0144218 © René Limbourg
Mine de charbon numero 1
LIR0144080 © René Limbourg
Mine number 1 in Datong.
LIR0144077 © René Limbourg
Women worker is watching the conveyor belt. She earns 700 kuais (80 US$) per month.
LIR0144219 © René Limbourg
Mine number 1 in Datong. 80 tons of coal in each wagon.
LIR0144175 © René Limbourg
"Coal-mine shaft"
LIR0144116 © René Limbourg
Mine number 1 in Datong. 80 tons of coal in each wagon.
LIR0144079 © René Limbourg
Mine number 1 in Datong. Coal Treatment industry.
LIR0144074 © René Limbourg
Mine number 13 in Datong. In winter, the temperature could reach -22 Fahrenheit. A man is going home with some coal on his back.
LIR0144117 © René Limbourg
Empty carriages are descending in one of the many private mines in Datong. Each year about 10 000 people died accidently in chinese mines.
LIR0144119 © René Limbourg
One of the many private mines in Datong. Each year about 10 000 people died accidently in chinese mines.
LIR0144131 © René Limbourg
One of the many private mines in Datong. Each year about 10 000 people died accidently in chinese mines.
LIR0144168 © René Limbourg
Break for a worker in one of the many private mines in Datong. Each year about 10 000 people died accidently in chinese mines.
LIR0143909 © René Limbourg
Workers in one of the many private mines in Datong. Each year about 10 000 people died accidently in chinese mines.
LIR0144111 © René Limbourg
Mineurs chinois
LIR0011385 © René Limbourg
Worker in one of the many private mines in Datong. Each year about 10 000 people died accidently in chinese mines.
LIR0144114 © René Limbourg
Mine number 9 in Datong. A worker is waiting in front of this State mine.
LIR0144012 © René Limbourg
Mine number one in Datong. At the end of the working day.
LIR0144199 © René Limbourg
Mine number one in Datong. At the end of the working day.
LIR0144181 © René Limbourg
In the lock room before the shower.
LIR0144221 © René Limbourg
Showe
LIR0144180 © René Limbourg
BAth
LIR0144212 © René Limbourg
Bath
LIR0144213 © René Limbourg
Mine number one in Datong. At the end of the working day. A worker is destressing and waiting for the shower.
LIR0144198 © René Limbourg
Mine number 1 in Datong.
LIR0144134 © René Limbourg