A Kazakhstan Coal Mine Disaster I Did Not Cover Last Month. I Regret Not Doing So. Now The Government Will Seize, And Nationalize, All ArcelorMittal Mines There.

This all transpired at the end of October 2023 -- I apologize. I was distracted.

But in country, now ArcelorMittal has been responsible for two mine disasters that killed more than 40 miners each. Correctly, from my perspective -- the (long post Soviet) government has told ArcelorMittal it is no longer to do business as a miner, and has claimed the mines, as state property -- given the Luxembourg-based company's very dubious record on miner safety -- and worker rights. [The company's US operations (steel) have certainly had their share of safety, and worker rights problems, too.]

I feel bad that I haven't kept a running log of all mining disasters (at least since 2010) that involved 40 or more deaths. That may be a project in/for the New Year, once the Northern Indian / Himalayan miners are safe at home -- out of that dark tunnel. We shall see. Here is The UK Guardian on it all, from last month:

. . .Kazakhstan was in national mourning on Sunday after 45 people died in a fire at an ArcelorMittal mine, the worst accident in the central Asian country’s post-Soviet history.

The tragedy, which struck at the Kostenko coal mine in the Karaganda region on Saturday, came after a series of deadly incidents at ArcelorMittal mines and has prompted the nationalisation of the company’s local affiliate.

“As of 3pm (0900 GMT), the bodies of 42 people were found,” Kazakhstan’s emergency services said on social media. “The search for four miners continues.”

Later, authorities said the bodies of three others had been found and rescuers were searching for the last missing miner, but held little hope of finding him alive. . . .

The previous deadliest mine accident in post-Soviet Kazakhstan occurred in 2006, killing 41 miners at another ArcelorMittal site. It came two months after another incident that killed five miners.

Anger and disbelief reigned after the disaster in Karaganda, central Kazakhstan. “Every miner is a hero, because when he goes down, he does not know if he will come back or not,” said Sergei Glazkov, a former miner. . . .

Now you know. Onward -- it is important, as we reflect on our blessings -- that we remember this is why unions, and miners' unions, specifically -- are still vitally. . . relevant. Be excellent to one another.

नमस्ते