The coal reclaiming efforts of CHN Energy Shendong Coal Group, a company based in the city of Ordos in North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, have delivered results.

The group is in charge of a series of coal mines lying on the borders of Inner Mongolia autonomous region and Shanxi, and Shaanxi provinces, which serve as important coal production bases in the Yellow River basin.

In recent years, while pursuing the comprehensive development and utilization of coal, the group has advanced the systemic treatment of mountains, rivers, fields, lakes, grasslands, and sandy areas within its coal mine areas.

In the past 37 years, the group has built several demonstration bases and demonstration projects, including the Shangwan Ecological Treatment Zone, Bulianta Mine Water Treatment Plant, and Halagou Ecological Demonstration Base.

It has also invested a total of 5.17 billion yuan ($775.69 million) into environmental protection and management funds, and the treatment area has reached 384 square kilometers.

The vegetation coverage rate in the mining areas has increased from three percent to more than 64 percent, the fragile environment has seen positive succession and an oasis has been built in desertified areas.

According to the latest data, the group has carried out more than 200 ecological studies, created new ecological prevention and control technologies and models, and solved the worldwide problem of ecological protection in the development and construction of large-scale coal bases in desertified areas.

In March 2020, the innovative coal mine treatment model in Halagou was honored as an exemplary project for soil and water conservation by the Ministry of Water Resources.

At a meeting held on Sept 18 between the Upper and Middle Yellow River Bureau and CHN Energy Shendong Coal Group, they jointly announced the initiative of the Shendong advanced coal mine treatment demonstration zone to lead ecological protection in the Yellow River basin.

The initiative will include building three ecological demonstration bases, 13 green mines, and 35 demonstration projects. 

Meanwhile, industries that were originally unrelated to coal mining, such as seabuckthorn and pasture planting, facility sightseeing agriculture, and the photovoltaic industry, have also been developed in these coal mines.