Xinjiang Issues Green Mine Construction Management Measures
Recently, the Department of Natural Resources, Department of Ecology and Environment, Department of Finance, and other relevant departments of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region jointly issued the “Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Green Mine Construction Management Measures” (hereinafter referred to as the “Measures”). The document establishes a working mechanism guided by the government, coordinated across departments, led by enterprises, and supervised by the public, aiming to effectively enhance the development, utilization, and protection of mineral resources.
The “Measures” propose the establishment of a green mine construction coordination mechanism involving departments such as natural resources, ecology and environment, finance, market supervision, financial regulation, securities regulation, and forestry and grassland to jointly advance green mine development and implement supporting policies.
The “Measures” clarify that mining enterprises are the primary entities responsible for green mine construction. They should proactively conduct regular self-assessments against relevant green mine standards and evaluation indicators, identify issues promptly for rectification, and promote green mine creation according to plan. New mines must strictly adhere to green mine standards during construction and operation, and pass green mine evaluation and verification within one to two years after official production begins. For existing mines with valid licenses, normal production over the past three years, and remaining reserves with a mining life of at least three years, medium and large-scale mines must specify green mine construction timelines and requirements when applying for extension or modification procedures, upgrading according to the creation standards. For mines with remaining reserves of less than three years, the focus should be on pollution control, geological environment restoration, land reclamation, vegetation recovery, and other ecological remediation before closure.
The “Measures” require that for new mines, natural resource departments at all levels incorporate green mine construction timelines and other requirements into mining rights transfer contracts. For existing mines, when processing mining rights extensions or modifications, signing green mine construction contracts is encouraged to clarify timelines and requirements.
The “Measures” emphasize that natural resource departments at all levels should collaborate with relevant departments to intensify supervision of mines that have not yet initiated green mine development, urging them to start as soon as possible. The autonomous region-level green mine construction evaluation indicators will be developed and adjusted by the Department of Natural Resources of Xinjiang in accordance with changes in laws, regulations, and technical standards. Mining groups and enterprises with the necessary conditions are encouraged to formulate and apply their own corporate standards.
(China Natural Resources News)
