Shendong Coal Group, a major coal mining company under State-owned CHN Energy Investment Group, is stepping up innovative efforts in smart mining initiatives, creating carbon sink forests and building underground water reservoirs, forging a pattern that aligns its coal development with environmental preservation.

Experts and executives said such efforts exemplified the coal industry's focus on green transition, as coal's pivotal role in the energy mix underscores the importance of clean extraction and effective use amid the country's push for green energy.

"Over the past 40 years of development in the Shendong mining area, we have reclaimed and treated about 580 square kilometers of quicksand areas and mining-induced subsidence areas. We have planted over 100 million trees and shrubs, increasing vegetation coverage in the mining area from 3 percent to over 64 percent," said Bai Zhengping, deputy general manager of Shendong.

While building green mines, Shendong Coal has also focused on smart mining advancement, setting up 29 automated and comprehensive mining stations operating at an average automation rate of 84.7 percent and utilizing 229 robots.

"Automation can support the green development of coal mining by addressing its low-efficiency issues. It can also help liberate workers from dangerous and strenuous frontline scenarios, promote local ecological restoration, and improve residents' living conditions. In suitable mining areas, more wind and solar energy can also be utilized during the coal mining process," said Wang Guofa, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Located near the Yellow River where ecology is relatively fragile with unstable water supply, protecting the local ecology while ensuring the water supply during coal resource extraction also poses a challenge to the company. Over the years, Shendong Coal has improved the theoretical framework and technological systems needed to build underground water reservoirs for coal mines and has constructed 35 reservoirs with a maximum storage capacity of 35 million cubic meters and an annual water supply of approximately 70 million cubic meters.

Last year, Shendong Coal utilized digital and information technology to establish a monitoring system for coal mines' underground water reservoirs, enabling real-time monitoring and management. This year, the company launched a data management platform, allowing for real-time multidimensional analysis of data related to water production, storage, purification, utilization, and adjustment.

"Through a series of new technologies and operational models, Shendong has resolved the challenge of balancing coal mining with ecological protection in fragile areas," Bai said.

"In the process of advancing the transformation toward green and low-carbon energy, ensuring energy security and stable supply is paramount. This indicates that coal will continue to play a significant role in the energy system in the short term, as new energy sources, due to their instability and intermittency, can cause unstable power generation, necessitating coal's role as a supplementary energy source. Clean extraction and utilization of coal are important to China's decarbonization goals," Wang said.

Shendong Coal has produced a total of 3.882 billion metric tons of coal over the past 40 years, with a profit totaling 397.3 billion yuan ($56.6 billion). Last year, it produced 193 million tons of coal, generating a profit of 34.4 billion yuan.