The reclaimed Heidaigou open-pit coal mine in Ordos [Photo/ordosnews.com]

In recent years, Ordos has been committed to high-standard green coal mine construction, achieving a win-win solution with ecological, economic, and landscape benefits.

To date, 99 green mines have been built in Ordos, 144 open-pit coal mines have been reclaimed spanning 177 square kilometers, and the reclamation rate has reached 80 percent.

Hulusu coal mine, which is affiliated to Zhongtian Hechuang Energy Co, is an example of developing environmental friendly coal mining.

The coal mine has invested 180 million yuan ($27 million) in constructing a coal gangue filling project.

These newly-installed crushers will crush mined coal gangue and then transfer it to the coal goaf to fill the gaps.

The project is estimated to have annual handling capacity of 1 million metric tons of coal gangue.

When the project is in full operation, it can reduce forest and grassland occupation, as well as dust pollution by coal gangue stacking, said Gu Anbang, secretary of the Party committee of Zhongtian Hechuang Hulusu coal mine.

The Hulusu coal mine, which is affiliated to Zhongtian Hechuang Energy Co. [Photo/ordosnews.com]

It can also prevent the hidden danger of spontaneous combustion of gangue and protect precious groundwater resources, Gu added.

The operation of the project is expected to save about 10 million yuan per year in the cost of gangue disposal. 

Another example of green coal mine construction in Ordos can be found at the Heidaigou and Harwusu open coal mines, which are affiliated to Shenhua Zhunneng Group.

The group has established a modern agriculture and animal husbandry company by cooperating with the local government to develop planting and aquaculture in the coal mines that have been mined.

To date, Zhuneng Group has invested a total of 1.60 billion yuan, and the total area of land reclamation and landscape greening has reached 3,340 hectares.