Thinking of China's green mine construction planning in the new era

In 2017, the former Ministry of Land and Resources, together with the Ministry of Finance and other six ministries and commissions issued the "Implementation Opinions on Accelerating the construction of green mines" (Land Regulations [2017] No. 4, hereinafter referred to as "No. 4 Document"), marking the transformation of China's green mine construction from the "pilot exploration" stage to the "comprehensive promotion" stage, and the green mine has become the general consensus of the whole society on the future development of the mining industry. It has become an inevitable requirement and prerequisite for the high-quality development of mining industry.

In the face of the new situation, new stage and new requirements, whether to prepare a plan for enterprises to create green mines, and how to prepare a "useful" plan in combination with their own development needs have become a problem faced by many enterprises. This paper analyzes and discusses how to position, necessity, purpose, method and effective implementation of green mine construction planning, in order to further improve the theory and method system of green mine construction planning and provide guidance for enterprises to carry out green mine construction practice.

First, the necessity analysis of preparing green mine construction plan

From 2011 to 2014, China carried out four batches of 661 state-level green mine construction pilot work. Green mine construction and development plan is one of the "essential elements" for mining enterprises to apply for national pilot units, which is not only an action program for enterprises to carry out green mine creation, but also an important basis for the government to evaluate, examine and accept pilot enterprises. Simply put, green mine construction planning in the pilot stage has requirements.

In 2017, with the release of Document No. 4, the overall work organization promotion and management system have also been adjusted accordingly. Under the new situation, the green mine adopts a directory management model, that is, the process of national, provincial, city and county level joint creation → business owner construction → self-construction and self-evaluation → third-party evaluation → standard storage → social supervision. Specifically, in the comprehensive promotion stage, in accordance with the national reform requirements of streamlining administration and delegating power and reducing administrative approval items, the national level has not made uniform requirements for the preparation of green mine construction planning. Planning will not be regarded as a "warehousing" requirement, enterprises only need to submit a self-evaluation report, and then the government will entrust a third-party organization to conduct an evaluation in the way of purchasing services, and the evaluation can be included in the directory management (Figure 1).

Therefore, in the face of new situations and new requirements, whether enterprises prepare green mine construction plans can be determined according to the management needs of different regions and the needs of enterprises themselves. Due to management needs, the competent departments of natural resources in some regions clearly require the mining enterprises established in the region to prepare green mine construction plans. If the competent department of the local government does not make specific requirements, the enterprise can decide whether to prepare a plan according to its own basic situation and needs.

Specifically, some enterprises with relatively solid preliminary basic work can directly prepare the green mine construction self-assessment report in accordance with the requirements, and submit third-party assessment and storage applications to the government. Some enterprises with a relatively weak foundation can consider the preparation of green mine construction plans, and can also consider the preparation of green mine construction implementation plans. The difference between planning and program is that, from the perspective of content, planning is more overall, from the macro and overall grasp, both strategic level and tactical level; The implementation plan pays more attention to concrete, micro, relanding and operability. In terms of time scale, the planning can be combined with short and long term goals, 2-5 years, and long-term goals can be 5-10 years; The implementation plan is usually one to two years.

For new mines, "green" should be taken as one of the main considerations in the design review and project acceptance, so that "green" runs through the whole life cycle and radiates the whole value chain. "Green" should be fully reflected in the mineral resources development and utilization plan, mine geological environment protection and restoration and management plan, land reclamation plan, mining area environmental impact assessment, water and soil conservation plan, and achieve the full connection and integration of the five plans. For example, it is more meaningful to formulate the green mine construction plan at the beginning of construction, ensure green development from the source of mine planning, design and construction, and guide the whole process of green mine construction.

Second, the internal needs of enterprises to prepare green mine construction planning

Under the new situation, the green mine construction plan (program) is not only for "warehousing" and "listing" to facilitate government review, supervision and guidance management, but also the "action program" and "actual combat manual" for mining enterprises to carry out green mine construction, and is a key link and important guarantee to promote the development of mining enterprises along the road of green mining. From the recent research and local practice, many mining enterprises have realized that green mine construction is an inevitable choice for enterprises to fulfill their responsibilities, seek their own sustainable development, and actively adapt to the requirements of national ecological civilization and high-quality economic development, and there is a strong internal demand for green mine construction planning (or program).

2.1 Mining enterprises do not know enough about the concept and construction standards of green mines

Some mining enterprises think that green mines are green mines, to wear a green clothes to the mine, is to plant grass and fill pits, is a face project; Some enterprises regard green mines as a shield to deal with environmental protection inspections, and think that energy conservation and emission reduction can be done well. Everyone's understanding of the connotation of green mine construction is not in place, so as to cover all. From the perspective of specific construction requirements, green mine construction has developed from the nine basic conditions required in the pilot stage and the relatively qualitative and rough construction requirements of Document 4 to the sub-industry standard combining qualitative requirements and quantitative indicators, and the next step is more detailed evaluation index system, realizing the transformation of green mine construction from administrative promotion to standard guidance. However, some enterprises have insufficient knowledge and understanding of industry standards and how to meet them.

2.2 For the creation and declaration of green mines, mining enterprises do not know where to start

Green mine construction is a systematic project with strong professionalism and technology, which requires both macro-level policy grasp and micro-level technical support, including concepts and methods, engineering technology, norms and standards, system management and other levels. For most enterprises, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, affected by the limitations of information, profession, technology and talent, they can not rely on their own strength to complete. For the current advanced green process technology and equipment is not mastered, how to treat and use tailings and waste rock, how to treat slope, what measures to take to meet the industry standard is not very clear, the need for third-party institutions to participate in helping enterprises to improve awareness, sort out problems, system design, scientific planning. In view of the above problems, the green mine construction planning required by enterprises should have the following characteristics.

1) Operability of planning. Green mine construction planning should not only be "virtual", but also "pragmatic", in order to improve operability and landing, it must be supported by a number of projects or projects to truly help enterprises solve the outstanding problems faced by key links such as green mining, comprehensive utilization of resources, energy conservation and emission reduction, mining geological environment governance and restoration, and digital mine construction, so as to achieve green mine construction standards. It lays a foundation for the preparation of the enterprise self-evaluation report, successfully passes the third-party evaluation, and then "meets the standards for warehousing".

2) Strategic development of planning. According to the requirements of ecological civilization strategy, the ultimate goal of green mine construction is to promote the ecological mining industry. Yu Runcang, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, once proposed that the construction of green mines should focus on the construction of ecological mining projects. The planning should adhere to industrial integration as the key direction of green mine construction, and promote the green transformation and upgrading of mining enterprises from a more long-term perspective. Especially for some large mines, the mining cycle is as long as several decades or even 100 years, it is necessary to plan in advance from the perspective of the entire production system and subsequent industrial development, innovate development approaches from the perspective of environmental reconstruction and industrial regeneration, and promote the integrated development of mining and the primary industry, the secondary industry and the tertiary industry. For example, Masteel Group, through the pilot exploration and planning implementation, starts the tailings aerated concrete block/gray sand brick project in terms of resource utilization, and builds a new model of "dual drive" with full utilization of associated resources and solid waste resources; In terms of industrial integration, based on the main mining industry, we will build a regional green ecological economic system with diversified development of comprehensive utilization industry, production technology service industry, modern agriculture, and characteristic industrial, mining and tourism, and create a new engine for green development.

Third, the preparation of green mine construction planning methods and suggestions

 The planner should have correct epistemology, values and methodology.

In terms of epistemology, it is necessary to change or even subvert the existing cognition of the production, operation and development law of the "mine", and use the "living body" to abstract and understand the mine. The "living body" of the mine has digestive, respiratory, circulation, nervous and other systems, and has the ability of learning, feedback, immunity, adaptation, repair and regeneration. If the green mine is compared to a person, it is to be a civilized person and a modern person, to have face (the mining environment is clean and reasonable layout), to have a good organ function, to achieve less input, more output, less emissions), and to have a brain (high IQ and EQ, digital mines and mines are harmonious).

In terms of values, it is necessary to guide the ideal goal of "symbiosis, co-prosperity, sharing, mutual benefit and co-governance" in the new era of ecological civilization, change the concept of "mineral resources" as a single tool value, establish the concept of "living body" of mines, and actively fulfill corporate social responsibilities. To promote the economic, ecological, environmental and social benefits of resource development and maximize the comprehensive benefits.

In terms of methodology, this paper puts forward the following suggestions from the two aspects of working method and planning concept.

3.1 Working method -- goal oriented + problem oriented

1) Find gaps against industry standards. At the end of June 2018, the Ministry of Natural Resources issued the green mine construction specifications for nine major industries in the form of Announcement No. 18, which is a milestone event in the development process of China's green mining industry, marking the transformation of China's green mine construction from "administrative promotion" to "standard guidance", and strengthening the self-discipline of the mining industry and accelerating the formation of a new pattern of green mine construction. It is of great significance to deepen the construction of ecological civilization in the mining industry and improve the ability of mining management. Green mine construction industry standards from mining environment (mine capacity and mine appearance, mining greening), resource development and utilization mode (green development, ecological environmental protection and restoration), comprehensive utilization of resources (co-associated resource utilization, solid waste utilization, mineral processing wastewater utilization), energy saving and emission reduction (energy saving and consumption reduction, pollutant discharge), scientific and technological innovation and digital mine, enterprise management and corporate image (Enterprise culture, enterprise management, enterprise integrity, enterprise harmony) put forward specific requirements, clear a series of qualitative and quantitative index requirements, green construction should be compared with industry standards for systematic analysis, shortcomings, strengths and weaknesses, at the same time can choose domestic and foreign benchmarking enterprises field research, learn from experience, expand ideas, learning methods. On the basis of benchmarking, planning should be problem-oriented, focus on the core links, determine priorities, and improve the pertinence and effectiveness of planning.

2) Overall planning and positioning. The green mine construction plan shall implement the national economic and social development plan, the overall plan of mineral resources and the green mining development plan of the region, take the enterprise construction and development plan or strategy as the guidance, and connect with the existing micro-level planning or program design of mine environmental protection and management, mining land reclamation and so on. Among them, the planning of different mines belonging to the same mining enterprise should fully reflect the characteristics; Different enterprises, but the same type of mines in the same area, have great similarities and can draw lessons from each other.

3) Use planning as a platform to gather force. Green mine construction is a systematic project, green mine construction planning involves a wide range of professional fields, many categories, large span, long chain, what kind of organization to choose is also a problem faced by many mining enterprises. More and more scientific research institutions or social organizations participate in the construction of green mines, but no matter what kind of institutions to prepare green mine construction planning, it is necessary to open the door to prepare planning, through planning to build a platform for communication and information sharing, one is to invite relevant experts to "pulse consultation", Such as mine design, mine restoration, digital mine construction and other technical experts, as well as familiar with local policy standards and requirements of management experts; The second is to encourage enterprise employees to offer suggestions, the most familiar with the problems of the enterprise is the mining enterprise employees, especially the relevant technical management personnel, to open the way, brainstorm.

3.2 Planning concept - Upper antenna + lower ground gas

The idea is the precursor of action. Green mine construction planning concept should not only connect the antenna, but also the ground gas.  Fully embodies "local adaptation, professional technology, economic feasibility, circular system and advanced consciousness".

3.2.1 Local conditions

Different regions, different scales, different production stages (new mines, production mines), different industries, different mining methods, facing different outstanding problems in green mine construction, environmental impact, capital requirements, technical means that should be taken are different. Therefore, in order to make a good plan, we must establish the concept of difference, according to the principle of adapting to local conditions and adapting to the time, one mine and one policy, according to the standard, and carry out targeted planning.

1) Different mining methods: The stripping project of open-pit mine has a large scope, and the construction focuses on solving the problems such as land destruction caused by the pressure of mining pit and external dump, geological disasters induced by the instability of open-pit slope, mining greening, dust suppression and so on. Underground mining mines are faced with problems such as ground collapse, ground cracks and destruction of underground aquifers. The planning focuses on filling mining, water retention mining or integration of mining, selection and charging.

2) Different regions: the terrain, geomorphology, climate and biological conditions around the mine are different, and the difficulty and application of technical modes are different in the mine environmental construction and geological environment restoration; In the warm and moist climate area of south China, the environmental restoration is less difficult, and the focus is on the protection and restoration of biological communities. The western and northern regions are more difficult. For example, Jinhui Mining in Qinghai Province is located in an ecologically fragile region on the plateau, exploring the cultivation of highland barley and other plants on the pulp of the dry beach of the tailings pond, and Dongming Mining in Hulunbuir is located in the east Arctic cold region, selecting and domesticating 26 kinds of seedlings suitable for growth in the cold region.

3) Different scales: Large mines have obvious advantages in team, technology, capital and management, while small mines are at a disadvantage. Large and medium-sized mines should pay attention to comprehensive construction of green mines, not only pay attention to overall resource benefits and environmental benefits, but also pay attention to scientific and technological innovation, personnel training, system construction and other capacity building as well as related ecological industry development, while small mines should focus on environmental restoration standards. Combine their own characteristics to solve specific problems.

4) Different stages: New mines are "incremental planning" mode, equivalent to painting on a blank sheet of paper, to pay attention to systematic and forward-looking; Production mines need to adopt the "stock planning" model, the core is to optimize and upgrade the existing production technology and equipment, economic model.

3.2.1 Local conditions

Different regions, different scales, different production stages (new mines, production mines), different industries, different mining methods, facing different outstanding problems in green mine construction, environmental impact, capital requirements, technical means that should be taken are different. Therefore, in order to make a good plan, we must establish the concept of difference, according to the principle of adapting to local conditions and adapting to the time, one mine and one policy, according to the standard, and carry out targeted planning.

1) Different mining methods: The stripping project of open-pit mine has a large scope, and the construction focuses on solving the problems such as land destruction caused by the pressure of mining pit and external dump, geological disasters induced by the instability of open-pit slope, mining greening, dust suppression and so on. Underground mining mines are faced with problems such as ground collapse, ground cracks and destruction of underground aquifers. The planning focuses on filling mining, water retention mining or integration of mining, selection and charging.

2) Different regions: the terrain, geomorphology, climate and biological conditions around the mine are different, and the difficulty and application of technical modes are different in the mine environmental construction and geological environment restoration; In the warm and moist climate area of south China, the environmental restoration is less difficult, and the focus is on the protection and restoration of biological communities. The western and northern regions are more difficult. For example, Jinhui Mining in Qinghai Province is located in an ecologically fragile region on the plateau, exploring the cultivation of highland barley and other plants on the pulp of the dry beach of the tailings pond, and Dongming Mining in Hulunbuir is located in the east Arctic cold region, selecting and domesticating 26 kinds of seedlings suitable for growth in the cold region.

3) Different scales: Large mines have obvious advantages in team, technology, capital and management, while small mines are at a disadvantage. Large and medium-sized mines should pay attention to comprehensive construction of green mines, not only pay attention to overall resource benefits and environmental benefits, but also pay attention to scientific and technological innovation, personnel training, system construction and other capacity building as well as related ecological industry development, while small mines should focus on environmental restoration standards. Combine their own characteristics to solve specific problems.

4) Different stages: New mines are "incremental planning" mode, equivalent to painting on a blank sheet of paper, to pay attention to systematic and forward-looking; Production mines need to adopt the "stock planning" model, the core is to optimize and upgrade the existing production technology and equipment, economic model.

3.2.2 Professional and technical

Green mine construction reflects the professional and technical requirements of many fields and disciplines, and has cross-border and integration. It is necessary to fully realize the important role of scientific and technological innovation driving in the construction of green mines.  It is necessary to fully realize that green mining and green mining are not only the application of high and new technology, but also the "source" of green new technology. The green mine construction industry standard puts forward specific qualitative and quantitative requirements for technological innovation from the aspects of innovation system construction, personnel training, key technology research and development, scientific research capital investment, and scientific and technological achievements transformation. In the preparation of the plan, it is necessary to attract relevant professional and technical experts to participate in the preparation of the plan, and more importantly, it is necessary to put forward effective and feasible concrete measures from the aspects of releasing the momentum of scientific and technological innovation and giving play to the drive of scientific and technological innovation.

3.2.3 Economic feasibility

Green mine construction should be considered from the economic dimension. From the green mine construction experience, the production mine after green upgrading and transformation, its total industrial output value and comprehensive utilization output value will be greatly increased, green mine construction is a short-term investment, long-term benefit. For example, Qinghai Duran Jinhui Mining Company, 90% of the annual profits from green mine construction, with their own practical actions to prove to all sectors of society: the development of green mining, the construction of green mines not only do not suffer losses, but also considerable profits. But in the short term, the construction of "green mine" needs to invest a certain amount of funds. At present, the mining industry situation is depressed, mining enterprises have a certain survival pressure, we must scientifically evaluate the reasonable cost of "green mine" construction, find a meeting point, not only to ensure the survival of enterprises but also to promote the transformation of green development of enterprises.

In the planning, the first is to carry out input-output analysis and overall budget for the projects and projects to be carried out, and make overall arrangements in time series according to the priorities; Second, for some small mines or old mines, research and introduction of "advanced applicable technology" that ADAPTS to the economic conditions and development stage of the mine, and promote the transformation and upgrading of process technology and equipment, rather than unbearable "luxury technology"; Third, while clarifying the development direction of comprehensive utilization of resources and circular economy, fully study the market, and consider improving resource and environmental benefits at the same time, there must be a certain economic benefit output as the premise. For example, Chengde vanadium titanium magnetite tailings have stable performance and high strength, which can meet the performance requirements of concrete aggregates, and can provide sufficient and lasting resource guarantee for Beijing green sand and gravel. In some mines with the same resource conditions, but the location conditions and market demand conditions are not very superior, the tailings sand making project is not economically feasible to a certain extent.

3.2.4 Circulatory system

The construction of green mine is a systematic project, and the construction of green mine is to build the circular economy of mine. The construction of green mine should change the mining enterprises from a single mining mode to a diversified, comprehensive resource development and utilization industry chain development mode. First, it is necessary to establish the concept of circular economy, considering the strengthening of green mining, comprehensive utilization of resources, mining geological environment management +, coupling between multiple production systems or links, so that material and energy multi-level utilization, waste resources and products, waste heat and waste gas energy, forming a multi-level closed-circuit cycle without waste and pollution-free industrial system; Second, it is necessary to establish the concept of comprehensive regulation of "mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes and grasses", change the previous narrow concept of land reclamation in mining areas, and through the process of "geomorphic remodeling, soil reconstruction, vegetation reconstruction, landscape reproduction, biodiversity reorganization and protection" from the perspective of "mountains, rivers, forests, fields, lakes and grasses" life community. To realize the "overall protection, systematic restoration and comprehensive management" of the ecological environment in the mining area and the surrounding area.

3.2.5 Advanced consciousness

As a planner, it is necessary to be forward-looking and innovative in thinking, and make suggestions for the development of mines from a more macro vision and a longer time scale. For example, for new mines, based on the circular economy model from the source, develop technical routes and measures to control interference and damage, strengthen the comprehensive utilization of resources and waste resources, and strive to achieve "no waste" mining without building tailings ponds, no waste rock yards, and no substandard wastewater discharged. For example, the Dawudian graphite mine in Inner Mongolia, in accordance with the concept of green development, in the mine design stage, based on the advantage of "one mine and three resources", to create a green mine of the whole industrial chain, in addition to the development and utilization of main mineral graphite resources, the development of new materials such as high-purity graphite and graphene industries, but also make full use of surrounding rock to develop stone industries such as microcrystalline building materials. Development of assembly building materials industry by using tailings to make foamed ceramics. For open-pit mines that are about to be closed, industrial implantation can be considered while doing a good job in the restoration and management of the mine geological environment. If there are many ways to use abandoned mines at present, + agriculture, cultivation or animal husbandry or aquaculture; + Ecological industries to form reservoirs or wetlands; + Tourism and entertainment, forming mine park, mine hotel; + Social services or other emerging industries, the formation of landfill or photovoltaic power generation, according to the mine's own conditions, regional natural environmental conditions, traffic conditions, distance from the city, local cultural environment, etc., combined with the actual planning to give directional suggestions.

Fourth, formulate green mine construction planning safeguard measures

1) Strengthen organizational, financial and technical support. Qualified mines should set up a special green mine construction leading group and office, coordinate the relevant work, improve the green mine management system, responsibility system, clear the schedule of planning and implementation, road map, responsible person. The construction of green mines will be included in the production cost budget of enterprises, and actively expand funding channels, strive for green credit and other support, and ensure that the project and project funds are raised and used in place. Strengthen cooperation with universities and research institutes to provide technical support and guarantee for the construction of green mines.

2) Strengthen deployment assessment and follow-up evaluation. Combine the green mine construction planning and implementation with the overall deployment of mine development and production and operation, improve and improve the planning implementation organization and management system, build a driving system with green performance as the core, combine the planning objectives with the annual objectives of mine production assessment and management, and consolidate layer by layer. We will strengthen follow-up and evaluation of the implementation of the plan and correct problems in a timely manner.

3) Strengthen publicity training and local guidance. Thought is the forerunner of action, and concept is the key to success or failure. Enterprises should strengthen the promotion and guidance of green mine concept and policy, improve every employee's awareness of ecological civilization and green development concept, let everyone know what is green mine, and take the initiative to participate in green mine construction, local governments and competent departments should also strengthen work guidance, and summarize the best practice of green mine construction that can be promoted and replicated.