Mines to make cash safety deposits

A new initiative State Administration of Work Safety to improve coal mine safety will require all mines to make financial safety deposits from 2006, state media reported. Mines with an annual production of 30,000 tons or less will be required to deposit US$74,000 to US$123,000 with larger mines depositing US$185,000 to US$740,000 to handle safety accidents and pay compensation to the victims' families. Meanwhile, China has dismissed two provincial deputy governors and prosecuted 96 officials for six high-profile coal mine accidents that killed 528 people over the past 13 months, the Wall Street Journal reported.