Present situation and ideas of green development of coal resources in Ningxia Province

Ningxia province is a major coal-producing province in Northwest China that contributes significantly to China’s economic development. However, long-term coal mining in Ningxia province has brought many environmental issues, such as surface collapse, destruction of water resources, air pollution, and random stacking of waste coal gangue. Hence, promoting the coordinated development of coal mining and environmental protection and improving the overall level of green coal development have become two critical issues for the development of the coal industry in this region. According to the current situation of coal mining in Ningxia province, the technical problems that require immediate resolution, such as the bottleneck of basic theory and technology, imperfect technical standards and norms of green development, insufficient support of green development technique and equipment, and lack of demonstration guidance and policy support were summarized. Moreover, the strategic thought, development blueprint, and strategic objectives of green development of coal mines were put forward based on the realistic demand of future development of the coal industry in Ningxia province, forming the overall strategic layout in this region. On this basis, the technical paths for future green development of coal mines in Ningxia province were proposed from various perspectives, primarily water resources protection technology of coal mining, large-scale and low-cost treatment technology of mine water, surface ecological restoration technology of mining area, intelligent and green mining technology, and clean coal technology. Finally, some feasible suggestions for the green development of coal mines in Ningxia province were proposed. We should clarified the concept and goal of green development and actively implement green mining to promote the ecological environment and ecological civilization to a new level and realize the high-quality, sustainable development of the coal industry in Ningxia province.