China has built more than 5,100 green mines at the provincial level and above,with remarkable progress in the conservation and efficient utilization of mineral resources,environmental restoration,energy conservation,and emissions reduction,China Media Group learned from the Ministry of Natural Resources on Thursday.
In the first 10 months of this year,more than 300 green mines were established at the provincial level or above.So far,1,054 national-level green mines and 4,055 provincial-level green mines have been built,accounting for 40.8 percent of all licensed and operational mines,according to the report.
Huang Xuexiong,an official of the Ministry of Natural Resources,was quoted as saying in the report that in the course of promoting green mine development,China has established a large number of major energy and resource bases as well as nationally planned mining areas.
This process has driven more intensive and large-scale resource development,with medium-sized and large mines accounting for more than 50 percent of the total mines nationwide and more than 80 percent of overall production capacity.
Green mines across China have seen a substantial increase in identified resource reserves.Newly identified resources of cobalt and rhenium have more than doubled,while those of nickel and indium have increased by more than 30 percent,significantly extending the service life of these mines,the report said.
"During the development of green mines,China focuses on ecological protection and restoration with the continuous improvement of national environmental regulations.In addition,the country vows to improve resource utilization efficiency through methods including recycling,"Lin Boqiang,dean of the China Institute for Studies in Energy Policy at Xiamen University,told the Global Times on Thursday.
Moreover,in recent years,China has pushed to integrate new energy to carry out mine construction,Lin added.
The Ministry of Natural Resources said green mine development has now shifted from an optional choice to a compulsory task.By the end of 2028,90 percent of all large-scale operating mines and 80 percent of all medium-scale operating mines nationwide must meet green mine standards,the report said.
Local authorities nationwide should ensure that all new mines are designed,built,and operated strictly in accordance with green mine standards from day one while accelerating the green transformation and upgrading of existing producing mines.In addition,operating mines that have not yet started the process are urged to launch green mine construction without delay,according to the report.
Based on the existing industry standards,the ministry will expedite the development and release of sector-specific standards for open-pit mining,geothermal and mineral water resources,offshore oil and gas,and other fields,thereby further refining and completing the overall green mine standard system,said the report.
"Promoting the green development of mines constitutes a vital component of China's broader green transformation.As one of the world's important players in both mineral resource development and consumption,China's substantial scale means that its practices and achievements in green mining not only generate significant positive externalities for the global green transition,but also serve as an important model to provide practical and effective guidance for others,especially for developing countries,"Lin noted.
