Coal mine giants to promote safety

Reeling from recent coal mine disasters, China will create several conglomerates over three to five years to improve mine safety and better compete on the world market, state media reported, quoting the National Development and Reform Commission's website. Big companies with annual production of over 100m tons, will be urged to take over smaller mines. New guidelines require closing unsafe mines, buying accident insurance for all miners, limiting working hours to six hours underground a day, and requiring protective equipment for all miners.