Coal mines in Xingtai, in north China's Hebei Province, will be fined 1 million yuan (US$12.34 million) for each mine-accident death until the end of February.
The fines are part of a 100-day safety drive launched this week by the city government.
Under the rules, underground non-coal mines face fines of 500,000 yuan for each death.
Firecracker plants and dangerous chemicals plants will be fined 300,000 yuan for each death in the 100 days.
The measures were promulgated after two recent mine accidents claimed 47 lives and left four missing in the city.
On November 6, a gypsum mine collapsed in Shangwang village in Xingtai, damaging two nearby gypsum mines, toppling a two-story building and leaving cracks in the ground.
The mishap left 33 dead and four missing.
A flood at 5am last Saturday in Yuanda Coal Mine in Xingtai trapped and killed 14 miners underground.
Apart from the Xingtai Mining Industry Group, all local coal mines, underground non-coal mines, and firecracker plants have been ordered to suspend production and conduct safety checks.
Reward offered
Mines and plants which cannot meet safety requirements will be shut, according to a report titled "Decisions on Operation of Highly Dangerous Enterprises" issued by the government.
The decisions require mines and plants to compensate the families of workers killed at work in the campaign period.
The government has also promised a reward of 10,000 yuan for anyone who reports an illegal mine or plant operation.
Leading Party and government officials at the city, county and township levels will be required to resign if a fatal accident occurs in a mine under their administration.
Officials providing electricity, funds, transport or materials to illegal mines or giving tacit consent to illegal mine operations will be severely punished.
The city has 157 coal mines, 621 non-coal mines, seven firecracker plants and 198 dangerous chemicals plants.
In Shaanxi Province, the number of deaths in coal mines is 42 percent higher this year than last year.
Accidents in the northwest province's coal mines killed 173 people by October, the provincial safety watchdog said yesterday.
Private coal mines will be the major targets in a safety check next month.
(Xinhua)