To the east of Wuhai Energy Limin Company, a subsidiary of CHN Energy Investment Group (CHN Energy), rows of photovoltaic panels are neatly arranged in terraced formations among the grass and flowers on the picturesque hills. Humanity and nature seem to coexist easily here.
Ecological restoration brings new life to the gangue hills. [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
However, these aren’t just any hills – they are made up of gangue, essentially waste from coal mining, and they can be bleak places. Now, through processes such as soil improvement, slope reshaping, natural revegetation and landscape restoration, the gangue hills have been transformed. The reclaimed land now boasts vegetation coverage several times higher than the original natural landscape. Over 290,000 shrubs and 2,100 trees have been planted, covering more than 200,000 square meters. This comprehensive ecological restoration significantly improves the mining area’s environment and promotes sustainable green development.
Limin Company operates in the southeastern part of Qipanjing Town, Otog Banner, Inner Mongolia, an area with low annual rainfall and frequent droughts. To address water scarcity, drought-resistant plants like Haloxylon, seabuckthorn, and camel thorn were selected for the ecological restoration project. After years of careful management, the survival rate of these plants has reached approximately 90 percent, providing a strong foundation for ecological reconstruction.
Addressing the geological challenges and high-temperature fire zones on the gangue hills, the company adopted a minimally invasive drilling and grouting method to extinguish fires. This involved drilling 1,785 holes with a total depth of 32,298 meters and injecting 89,459.4 cubic meters of grout, covering an area of about 21,000 square meters. This method effectively eliminates the risk of spontaneous combustion, fostering a conducive environment for plant growth.
Part of the ecological restoration and photovoltaic power generation project in the gangue hills [Photo/sasac.gov.cn]
Emphasizing renewable energy and environmental protection, the company combines mine ecological restoration with new energy development. Leveraging the old mine's terrain and sunlight advantages, the company developed a photovoltaic power generation project that integrates ecological restoration.
The project is expected to deliver 8.58 million kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually, which would take 983.2 tons of standard coal to produce, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 6,427 tons, and saving 11.04 million yuan in annual costs.
The surrounding pastoral areas, mainly to the north and east of the mine, are crucial for local economic activities. Previously, herders relied on natural grasslands to graze livestock, supplementing their income with purchased corn stalks during poor seasons. The project has introduced alfalfa planting, significantly enhancing livestock health and productivity. Alfalfa’s deep root system also improves soil structure and prevents erosion, promoting long-term sustainable use of pastures.
The project provides economic and ecological benefits to local herders, and drives sustainable agricultural and pastoral development.
Moving forward, Limin Company will continue to promote coordinated mineral resource utilization and ecological protection, advancing towards an ecological civilization in all aspects.
(Executive editor: Zhu Zeya)
