During China’s annual Two Sessions, Yang Huijun, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) and deputy director of the support plant at Longhu Coal Mine under Longmei Group’s Qitaihe Mining Company, has witnessed firsthand the significant role of coal in driving regional economic growth over his 24-year career.
Source: China Coal News
During China’s annual Two Sessions, Yang Huijun, a deputy to the National People's Congress (NPC) and deputy director of the support plant at Longhu Coal Mine under Longmei Group’s Qitaihe Mining Company, has witnessed firsthand the significant role of coal in driving regional economic growth over his 24-year career. However, he is also deeply aware of the mounting challenges faced by aging coal enterprises, including resource depletion, increasing mining depths, and shrinking recoverable reserves—factors that are gradually undermining their ability to sustain local economies.
“We are increasingly concerned about the future of these enterprises,” Yang said. “This is especially true for underground miners, who often have highly specialized skills and are generally older. Once they leave the coal industry, transitioning to other jobs is extremely difficult.” To address these concerns, he urged stronger policy, resource, and financial support to ensure the sustainable development of traditional coal enterprises.
Yang highlighted that Qitaihe Mining Company primarily produces coking coal and 1/3 coking coal, known for its ultra-low sulfur, low phosphorus, and strong caking properties—qualities that make it highly valuable. However, complex geological conditions, high mining difficulty, and rising extraction costs pose significant challenges. He proposed subsidizing the protective mining of rare coal resources and encouraging cooperation between traditional coal enterprises and resource-rich regions to facilitate cross-regional coal development, ensuring the continued supply of strategically scarce coal types.
He also pointed out that Longmei Group oversees four mining companies, with some operations running for over a century. Qitaihe Mining Company itself has been in operation for nearly 70 years, but due to limited environmental investments in its early years, the region now faces significant legacy issues, including the challenge of managing coal gangue hills and large-scale ecological restoration needs. “I propose enhancing policy support for environmental management in aging mining areas and increasing long-term national bond subsidies to help traditional coal enterprises accelerate the development of green mines,” Yang added.
Reproduced article do not represent the position of New Energy Era.