Tibetan mine embraces green development path

A chromium mining area in Lhokha, Tibet autonomous region, has taken the path of green development in recent years to restore its natural environment.

Known on the plateau for its chromium output, Chusum county is home to the Norbusa mining area of the local branch of China Baowu Tibet Mining Co. It is the largest chromium-producing area in China.

Chromium is widely used to harden and polish steel and to create stainless steel.

The company was added to the national green mining list in 2020 thanks to its achievements in following a green path.

In recent years, the company has invested more than 50 million yuan ($7 million) to renovate more than 63 hectares of mined areas.

Li Jun, deputy general manager of the sub-branch of the company in Lhokha, said most of those areas have been renovated and properly filled, using more than 1.3 million cubic meters of fill to cover disturbed areas.

"We can see grass growing in the restored areas now, and we planted more than 2,000 trees in the spring with the help of more than 120 workers," Li said.

Beyond restoring the damaged land to its original condition, the company is also following a green development path in technological innovation and the use of resources.

"Previously, we mainly used wood to shore up mine shafts. Mining was carried out solely by manpower, and waste rock could only be discharged outside, which is neither environmentally friendly nor safe," said Kelsang Dawa, another deputy general manager of the company in Lhokha.

"With new mining methods, waste rock is crushed and used as backfill. By using new digging machines, we no longer need to use wood shoring," he said. He noted that with the reduction of displaced waste rock, mining efficiency and safety have significantly improved.

After 2020, the mining company began to adopt more advanced mining methods, a waste rock filling station is being used to fill the underground mined-out hollows with a cement-like slurry made of the waste rock, greatly reducing the storage of mining waste on the surface.

"It has helped to reduce the impact of mining on the surrounding ecological environment, and it is vital in preventing geological disasters such as surface subsidence and mudslides," said Kelsang Dawa.

In 2022, the amount of waste rock generated by the company's mining site was approximately 90,000 metric tons.

"Through environmentally friendly backfilling, not only was all the waste rock generated in 2022 digested, but also 17,000 tons of waste rock stored from previous years was utilized, achieving waste reuse," he said.

Next, the company plans to build a residential community for workers. It will have lawns, drainage systems, a sports field and a parking lot.

"Adhering to a green development path to create a garden-style, waste-free mining area is our goal," Li Jun said.