A series of national standards for green mine construction, jointly issued by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the State Administration for Market Regulation, has been officially released and will take full effect on October 1, 2026. Comprising 10 parts, the standards cover major mineral categories including coal, onshore oil and gas fields, ferrous metals, non-ferrous metals, chemicals, non-metals, gold, sand and gravel, limestone for cement, and geothermal and mineral water. The release marks a new stage of systematic and standardized green mine construction in China.

Full Lifecycle Coverage: Six Dimensions from Extraction to Restoration
The standards set differentiated requirements across six key areas—resource extraction, comprehensive resource utilization, green and low-carbon operations, ecological restoration, technological innovation and standardized management, and mining area environment—tailored to the development methods and process characteristics of different mineral types, covering the full lifecycle of mine development.

In resource extraction, mines are required to promote environmentally friendly extraction processes adapted to local conditions, encourage the use of intelligent equipment such as autonomous mining trucks and energy-saving machinery, and vigorously advance smart and new-energy equipment. In comprehensive resource utilization, the standards emphasize a circular economy approach—"extract and utilize to the fullest, and recycle whenever possible." In green and low-carbon operations, strict controls are placed on wastewater, waste gas, dust, and noise emissions to advance carbon reduction. In ecological restoration, the standards adhere to a combination of natural recovery and artificial restoration, requiring enterprises to "extract and restore simultaneously," restoring vegetation and landforms according to local conditions.

Specific Requirements for Ferrous Metal Mines
Of particular relevance to the stainless steel industry, Part 3 of the standards specifically addresses ferrous metal mines (applicable to iron, manganese, chromium, vanadium, titanium, and other minerals), setting out basic requirements for green mine construction. These include: adopting sustainable, environmentally friendly extraction methods to minimize disturbance to surrounding areas; meeting green and low-carbon production requirements and achieving comprehensive treatment and restoration of the mining area's ecological environment; carrying out technological innovation to build intelligent mines, improve resource utilization efficiency, and promote cleaner production; and establishing green mine management systems to foster harmonious mine-community relations.

Industry Significance: A Unified Yardstick for Green Transformation
Lyu Zhenfu, head of the standard drafting group, stated that the standards fill the gap in national-level green mine construction standards for different mineral types, unify the yardstick for green mine construction across industries, and provide authoritative technical guidance for mining enterprises' green transformation and upgrading, regulatory supervision, and third-party evaluation. With the implementation of this series of standards, the green and low-carbon transition of the mining sector will have a clearer action framework and evaluation basis.

This article is based on a report from China Steel News Network.