The Ministry of Natural Resources and six other departments have jointly issued a notice to comprehensively advance the development of green mines.

Recently, the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, the Ministry of Finance, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the National Administration of Financial Regulation, the China Securities Regulatory Commission, and the National Forestry and Grassland Administration jointly issued the “Notice on Further Strengthening Green Mine Construction” (hereinafter referred to as the “Notice”), calling for the comprehensive advancement of green mine development and the accelerated transformation of the mining sector toward green and low‑carbon practices. (For an in-depth analysis, see Page 2 today.)

Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, the development of green mines has become a powerful tool for advancing ecological civilization in the mining sector and an important measure for promoting high-quality development in the industry. To thoroughly implement the spirit of the 20th National Congress of the CPC, fully apply Xi Jinping’s Thought on Ecological Civilization, and plan the green and low-carbon development of the mining sector from the perspective of harmonious coexistence between humanity and nature, the Ministry of Natural Resources, in collaboration with relevant departments, has jointly issued a notice aimed at effectively elevating the level of mineral resource exploration, development, utilization, and protection, thereby contributing to the building of a Beautiful China.

The Notice clearly states that green mine development is to be advanced across the board. Previously, green mines were regarded as a select group of exemplary operations serving as models and guides. In the new stage of development, new requirements have been set for green‑mine construction. Accordingly, the Notice shifts the focus to comprehensive, nationwide implementation, urging local authorities to base their efforts on the realities of mining development, employ contract‑based management, adopt tailored policies, and systematically promote the establishment of green mines among both newly built and operating mines.

The Notice emphasizes that third-party assessment agencies for green mine construction must be enterprises, institutions, or industry associations with independent legal status, possessing the experience and capabilities to conduct green mine‑construction assessments and capable of carrying out such assessments on a long-term, stable basis. The Notice also sets forth specific requirements for third-party assessment work, detailing provisions regarding the composition of assessment teams, operational requirements, and procedural workflows, and clearly stipulating penalties for violations committed during the assessment process.

The Notice clarifies that dynamic management of the Green Mine Registry will be strengthened. It establishes the “Requirements for Dynamic Management of the Green Mine Registry,” promoting the development of a robust, “entry‑and‑exit”–based dynamic management mechanism. Under this framework, mining enterprises meeting the prescribed standards will be included in the provincial or national Green Mine Registry, while those failing to meet the requirements will be promptly removed in accordance with established procedures. The Notice also specifies the various circumstances under which entities may be delisted.

The Notice has revised and refined the national-level evaluation criteria for green mine construction, streamlining the 100 indicators—originally issued on a trial basis in 2020 with a total of 1,000 points—into 49 indicators, each worth 100 points. This adjustment highlights key metrics and substantially enhances the criteria’s relevance and practical applicability. The Notice categorizes the evaluation indicators into mandatory requirements and improvement-oriented criteria, with the mandatory indicators establishing minimum thresholds. In addition, it plans to organize research and develop industry standards for open-pit mining, geothermal mineral water, and other sectors, further strengthening the overall standards framework.

The Notice emphasizes that oversight and assessment of green mine development will be further strengthened. For mines already designated as green, on an annual basis, at least 10% will be selected for on-site verification in accordance with the “double-random, one-public” inspection requirements. For mines that have yet to initiate green‑mine development, guidance and supervision will be intensified to expedite the implementation of such initiatives. Moreover, green‑mine construction will be incorporated into the government’s performance‑evaluation framework and into the evaluation criteria for the exit audits of natural resource assets held by leading cadres.

In addition, the Notice encourages mining enterprises to adopt advanced and appropriate technologies, strengthen the upgrading and transformation of green and low-carbon technologies, processes, and equipment, and leverage information technology to promote intelligent and green development. The Notice also clarifies the policy direction for incentivizing and supporting green mines, calling on local authorities to actively implement tax‑preferential measures and innovation‑support policies; it further defines the responsibilities of relevant departments such as natural resources and ecological environment, establishes sound communication and coordination mechanisms, advances division of labor and collaboration, and jointly enhances routine oversight of green mines. (Reporters: Wang Yu, Ding Quanli)