A high-speed tunnelling competition is going on to secure coal pits in the coal-mining industry sector.

According to statistics, dozens of reserve coal pits have so far been secured more than before in some 70 days since the launch of the first-stage competition.

Since the start of the tunnelling competition, the Sunchon Area Youth Coal-mining Complex has dug hundreds of metres so far. In particular, the February 8 Jiktong, Ryongdae and Chonsong youth coal mines actively introduce effective methods conducive to increasing drilling velocity and blasting efficiency.

The Tokchon and Kujang area coal-mining complexes and Pukchang Area Youth Coal-mining Complex ensure the supply of equipment, materials and accessories on a priority basis in line with the conditions where tunnelling pits are expanded deeper, thus increasing production with the help of sequence drilling and blasting in every pit.

Large-scale hydropower stations in South Hamgyong Province produced much more electricity than the same period of last year by repairing generating equipment and structures qualitatively and concentrating all energies on technical upgrading.

The Pujongang Power Station reduced the period of overhauling by one third and ensured its quality on a high level to restore the original performance of generating equipment and generate much electric power with the same water, while the Hochongang and Kumyagang power stations are carrying on the work of improving the quality of water turbines according to phased and annual plans.

The Jangjingang Power Station installed a new-type excitation device to raise the operational efficiency of generators and laid foundations for realizing the integrated production system in a short time in cooperation with scientific research institutions. It also remodelled water pumps to secure thousands of cubic metres of water in Lake Jangjin and built dredge boats to put the management of reservoir on a normal footing.

The light industry sector pays importance to recycling by-products and waste materials.

The Kangdong Garment Factory produces cotton by recycling by-products and waste materials, and the Pyongyang Hosiery Factory produces plastic rings for packaging socks with by-products. The Pyongyang and Rangnang garment factories and the Songyo and Wonsan knitwear factories turn out gloves, vests and shoulder pads with cloth scraps.

According to an official of the Pyongyang Municipal Garment Industry Management Bureau, scraps of nylon lining cloth and waterproof cloth, which were regarded as useless, are an important source at present.