Approved at the 12th Session of the Standing Committee of the 14th People’s Congress of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, the “Regulations on Promoting Green Mine Construction in the Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture” (hereinafter referred to as the “Regulations”) were promulgated and came into effect on August 13 by the Standing Committee of the People’s Congress of the Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture. It is reported that these Regulations represent Xinjiang’s first local regulation specifically addressing green mine construction.
　　“As an important industry driving steady economic growth in the entire prefecture, the green mining economy has continued to show positive momentum in recent years,” said the head of the prefecture’s Bureau of Natural Resources. “The implementation of the Regulations will provide strong support for the development and utilization of Kizilsu Kirghiz Autonomous Prefecture’s mineral resources—whose advantages lie in their abundance—and for achieving high-quality economic development.”
　　The Regulations clearly stipulate that newly built, renovated, or expanded mines shall carry out green mine construction in accordance with relevant industry standards. Operating mines shall accelerate their green transformation and upgrading, and must meet the green mine standards within a specified time limit. For operating mines with remaining recoverable reserves for less than three years, management shall be strengthened in compliance with green mine construction standards, pollution prevention measures shall be properly implemented prior to mine closure, and ecological restoration of the mine shall be completed before the mine is shut down.
　　The Regulations emphasize that the governments of prefectural and county (city) levels should strengthen organizational leadership over the construction and management of green mines, integrating these efforts into land and spatial planning as well as the overall plan for mineral resource development. The natural resources departments of prefectural and county (city) governments are responsible for the overall coordination, supervision, and management of green mines within their respective administrative areas; other relevant departments shall promote green mine development according to their respective duties. Mining enterprises shall bear the primary responsibility for green mine construction and carry out green mine creation activities as planned. For newly established mines, when granting mining rights, the relevant requirements for green mine construction and the liabilities for breach of contract must be incorporated into the grant contract. When handling procedures for extending or amending mining rights, specific deadlines and requirements for achieving green mine standards must be clearly stipulated.
　　The Regulations propose encouraging financial institutions to develop green mine-specific credit products that are tailored to actual needs and to increase financial support for green mine enterprises. Eligible green mine enterprises will be supported in going public as well as listing on the New Third Board and regional equity markets. Green mine enterprises that meet relevant regulations will be given priority access to policy support in areas such as land use, mineral resource utilization, and finance. For mining rights that fall under the circumstances eligible for negotiated transfer, these rights may be preferentially transferred through negotiated paid transfers to green mines.
　　In addition, the Regulations also set forth specific requirements for green mine construction and provisions regarding relevant illegal and non-compliant activities.