New Zealand mine safety expert Dave Feickert says Chilean authorities have now been provided with details of Chinese fibre-optic technology which could make life easier - and safer - for the 33 miners trapped 700m underground in a desert gold and copper mine.
The miners have been stuck since an August 5 cave-in and are surviving on supplies funnelled to them from above ground through three bore holes, each about 10cm in diameter.
Officials said today that they have compiled a 25-minute video the miners filmed for their relatives on the surface. CNN reported that over the past few days rescuers have sent the miners MP3 players and small speakers with a selection of music including Mexican rancheras, Puerto Rican reggaeton and Dominican merengue.
But Dave Feickert, of Wanganui - who is working in China to improve its accident-prone mines - has discussed with engineers from the Shandong-based Micro Sensor Photonics (MSP) company how they might be able to help in the rescue effort.
Today he said former British deputy prime minister, John Prescott, had taken some of the ideas for using Chinese mine communications technology to the charge d'affaires at the Chilean embassy in London, Rodrigo Espinosa.
"Mr Espinosa phoned me in Beijing and I sent him some more technical information," Mr Feikert told NZPA.
"He has now forwarded this to Chile."
The miners are suffering increasing health problems, including fungal infections, sores and, some have been affected by depression.
At the moment each man is restricted to a one minute telephone conversation with his family, and they have to take strictly ordered turns to talk.
"It is hoped that the fibre optic-based systems can extend this capacity substantially, but engineers from the Chinese company would need to fly to Chile to discuss the technical issues with the rescue team," Mr Feickert said.
A hybrid cable used in Chinese mines - metal and fibre optic elements together, with low-voltage electricity - was thinner than a pencil and could also be used to provide some lighting.
And, depending on the availability of small screens that could be sent down a borehole, the lightweight cable and an audio feed could provide video for entertainment and educational purposes for the trapped men, and more men could chat to family at a time, with better privacy.
"MSP's systems may also be able to be deployed for other monitoring work," said Mr Feickert, who yesterday discussed the initiative with ministers of the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), which is responsible for mine safety in China.
MSP is a British-owned company, and Stephen Hughes, Member of the European Parliament for Durham, a former mining region, and a member of the parliament's China delegation, will seek support from the EU's emergency fund to help cover the costs of the work.
"This technology is not expensive but the cost will come in getting the Chinese engineers on site," said Mr Feickert.
NZPA