Both the Heidaigou and Harwusu open-pit coal mines in Ordos were recently included on the list of national green mines, taking the number of the city’s mining companies on the list to 17, according to a report in the People’s Daily.

It was the result of the city’s continued efforts to implement the Opinions on Accelerating the Construction of Green Mines, which was issued by the former Ministry of Land and Resources in 2017 to promote the development of environmentally friendly green mines as a "national action."

Ordos is a modern city that has prospered by coal. In the 1990s, the industry became the main driving force of the its economic and social development, setting off an upsurge in the development of resources. 

But along with the surge in the number of resources companies relying on simple mining methods, the extensive development of the coal resources severely damaged the local environment.

Adhering to the concept of “lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets”, Ordos city has adopted environmental priorities and accelerated its moves towards high-quality green development.

Over the past three years, all 59 large and medium-sized mines in Ordos have reached the green mine standard and all 26 small-scale mines in the city have achieved standardized management.

To date, of the 638 mining enterprises in Ordos, 94 green mines at the national and autonomous region two levels have been established; 326 mining enterprises have completed green conversion of their operations and passed assessments of their geological and environment treatment, involving a mine treatment area of 248.12 square kilometers.

Meanwhile, 144 open-pit coal mines have been reclaimed on a land area covering 176 sq km.