Coal miners in North Pyongan province have begun the new year with a production competition between mining teams, with rewards being offered for top performers.
According to a source in the province on Monday, a coal mine under the Kujang Area Coal Mining Company has implemented what they’re calling “socialist production-oriented competition” among its shaft teams. The mine comprises roughly ten shafts, each staffed by various crews including “companies” responsible for tunnel extension and coal extraction, and “squadrons” handling power supply, safety protocols, and facility management.
Competition has intensified not only between shaft teams but also among the different crews within each shaft. To incentivize production, logistics teams are stockpiling supplies to be distributed to the highest-producing shafts, with better performers set to receive larger allocations of rice, wheat flour, and cooking oil.
Some shafts have already begun distributing supplies to motivate their teams. “Mine Shaft No. 6 gave each competing miner three kilograms of wheat flour and two kilograms of oil on Jan. 3,” the source revealed. “They also announced prizes of 100 kilograms of rice and 50 kilograms of oil for the first and second-place companies.”
Given that companies average about 70 miners each, individual winners would receive relatively modest amounts – approximately 1.5 kilograms of rice and 0.7 kilograms of oil per person. Nevertheless, miners are reportedly enthusiastic about the opportunity to earn even these small bonuses.
While production drives are typical at the start of each year, prize-based competitions are unusual. Some miners speculate this new approach might be linked to increased revenues from coal exports, particularly following recent success in rerouting Chinese-bound coal through Russia when faced with Chinese government restrictions.
The initiative appears to be well-received among the workforce. “Usually we just get pressured to increase production at the start of the year,” the source noted. “But this time, with actual supplies on offer, everyone’s genuinely motivated to work harder.”