Gold miners reduce harm to ecology

Gold miners take significant steps to minimize environmental damage

Chinese gold mining companies reduced their energy consumption by 188,000 metric tons of standard coal equivalent in 2017, by using recycled water and waste rocks, according to figures from the China Gold Association.

Solid waste reduction reached 15 million tons per year, through recycling water, steam and other resources, according to the fourth China Gold Industry Social Responsibility Report released by the association on July 24, 2018.

The report discusses corporate social responsibility activity within the gold industry and describes accomplishments in economic, environmental and social responsibility in the past two years.

According to Song Xin, head of the association, the gold industry has been paying more attention to recycling resources through promoting the construction of “green mines” in recent years. The environmental impact of mining activities has been a key issue concerning the industry, he said.

Last year, six ministries, including the Ministry of Ecology and Environment and the Ministry of Natural Resources, announced policy support for green mining standards and techniques, to ensure that mine sites are operated in a more environmentally friendly way and any environmental damage is remediated.

The moves include shutting down illegal and unregulated mines, better legislation and regulations, improving environmental performance, using waste materials in construction work, closing and reclaiming sites of shut-down mines, and investing in research and development of green mining technology.

The guidelines released under the policy stipulate that all mines in China should meet the new standards by 2020.

Qinghai Dachaidan Mining Ltd has been replenishing the environment and improving the efficiency of its manufacturing processes in recent years. In one year, 96 percent of its total used water was recycled water.

China National Gold Group Jiangxi Jinshan Gold Mine Co Ltd has developed and maintained a green mine for more than 30 years, using reusable waste in construction, recycling wastewater for production to alleviate water shortages, avoiding taking up space in existing forest and making use of waste land to plant trees.

According to the China Gold Association, the industry has developed significantly in recent years.

China has become the world’s top gold producer for the 11th consecutive year since surpassing South Africa in 2007. The country’s gold consumption reached 1,089.07 tons in 2017, a year-on-year increase of 9.41 percent, with demand for gold jewelry, gold bars and industrial uses surging.

Domestic companies have invested over $4 billion in overseas markets in the past few years, and accessed gold resources of more than 1,500 tons.

Demand for gold is expected to continue rising, boosted by growth in high-end consumption and demand from second and third-tier cities. Zhao Xuezhu contributed to the story.