Shendong Coal Intensifies Green Initiatives

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Shendong Coal Group, part of the State-owned CHN Energy Investment Group, is intensifying its efforts in smart mining, creating carbon sink forests, and building underground water reservoirs, aligning its coal extraction practices with environmental conservation. Industry experts and company leaders have pointed out that these efforts showcase the coal sector’s focus on a green transition. As coal remains a key player in the energy landscape, they noted the growing importance of cleaner extraction methods and efficient use, particularly as China pushes for greener energy solutions.

It was reported that over the last 40 years, the Shendong mining region has seen the reclamation and restoration of approximately 580 square kilometers of land affected by quicksand and mining subsidence. During this period, over 100 million trees and shrubs have been planted, significantly increasing vegetation coverage from 3 percent to more than 64 percent. Shendong has also made significant strides in smart mining, setting up 29 automated mining stations with an 84.7 percent automation rate, employing 229 robots in the process.

Observers have highlighted the role of automation in boosting efficiency and safety in coal mining while contributing to ecological recovery and improving local living standards. They also suggested that wind and solar power could supplement coal mining operations in suitable regions.

The company faces challenges in managing water resources due to its proximity to the ecologically fragile Yellow River, where water supply is unstable. Over the years, Shendong has developed both theoretical and technological systems for constructing underground water reservoirs in its mines, now operating 35 reservoirs with a capacity of up to 35 million cubic meters and an annual water supply of around 70 million cubic meters. In 2023, Shendong implemented digital monitoring systems to manage these reservoirs in real-time and launched a platform this year for comprehensive data analysis related to water production and storage.

Industry insiders have remarked on Shendong’s success in balancing coal extraction with ecological preservation in sensitive areas through innovative technologies and operational models. They have also stressed that as China transitions to greener energy, coal will continue to play a crucial role in maintaining energy security, especially given the intermittency of new energy sources. Clean coal extraction and utilization, they said, will remain central to China’s decarbonization efforts.

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