Introduction: The mine geological environment remediation and restoration deposit serves as a credit guarantee for mining right holders to fulfill their social responsibilities and obligations. It can also be viewed as a “threshold” set by administrative licensing. The institutional design itself is not problematic; the key issue lies in ensuring that the “deposit” does not become merely “idle funds” sitting in fiscal accounts. Instead, a mechanism should be devised to activate these funds and ensure they are specifically used for mining activities.

The latest statistics from the Ministry of Natural Resources show that more than 70 percent of mines nationwide have not been effectively remediated. Even more alarming is that, as raw material prices decline and the industry enters a downturn, mining companies are increasingly reluctant to invest in post-mining restoration efforts. In some extreme cases, many mining companies would rather forfeit the mine-rehabilitation deposits they had previously paid and directly file for bankruptcy than bear the enormous burden of subsequent remediation.

　　As a result, a significant funding gap has emerged in mine reclamation efforts. To address this issue, the Ministry of Natural Resources encourages localities to actively explore mechanisms such as depositing保证金 through bank guarantees and allowing advance withdrawals of保证金, thereby effectively easing the financial burden on enterprises. However, it’s clear that these measures represent only the beginning if we are truly to overcome the challenges of mine reclamation; government departments and mining enterprises still have a long way to go.

　　The Economic Observer learned from the Ministry of Natural Resources that, as of... 2014 Year, the total amount of land damaged nationwide 303 Ten thousand hectares—there are still approximately... nationwide. 220 The area of 100,000 hectares of damaged land has not been effectively managed, accounting for the nation’s total damaged land area. 73.3% 。

　　The Ministry of Natural Resources is promoting the establishment of a deposit system for the remediation and restoration of mine geological environments nationwide. 2013 This year, all provinces across the country have already introduced and implemented a deposit system for the remediation and restoration of mine geological environments, in order to... “ Owned by the enterprise, regulated by the government, and earmarked for specific purposes. ” As a principle, mining enterprises are required to fulfill their obligations for geological and environmental remediation and ecological restoration during the mining process as well as when a mine is closed, shut down, or abandoned. After passing the acceptance inspection, the corresponding amount of deposit and its interest will be returned based on the extent to which these obligations have been fulfilled.

However, China’s current system of deposit guarantees for the remediation and restoration of mine geological environments is currently only explicitly stipulated in departmental regulations and local statutes. In the actual implementation process across different provinces and cities, there still exist issues such as mismatches between deposits and remediation efforts, low refund rates, failure to address problems after depositing funds, and simply making a one-time deposit without further action.

　　 Hotly contested margin.

　　Lin Hang (a pseudonym used in this article) is the head of a mineral mining company in Fujian Province. Given the poor industry conditions and the company’s current state of losses, he has just completed the bankruptcy proceedings for his business. He also plans not to claim back the mine restoration deposit he previously paid. “ The cost of restoration and remediation is so high that even if the deposit were returned to me, it still wouldn't cover the expenses. So I’d rather not have that money at all than go ahead with the restoration—which, in fact, is quite common in our industry. ” Lin Hang said.

　　According to data from the Ministry of Natural Resources, the nationwide cumulative area of damaged land... 303 10,000 hectares of land have been treated and restored. 81 Ten thousand hectares, with a treatment rate of 26.7% 。

　　Lin Hang told the Economic Observer: “ Right now, mining companies across the country are all in a pretty tough situation—they’re all operating at a loss. How could they possibly have the energy to tackle mine reclamation? “” At the time, I had chosen to pay in installments, and before I’d finished making the payments, the company went bankrupt. I decided not to ask for a refund of the money I’d already paid, because it still wouldn’t have been enough to cover the restoration costs. ” Lin Hang said.

　　According to the Ministry of Land and Resources, as of... 2014 Year 12 Month, the number of mines nationwide required to pay deposits is: 99006 Number of mines already paid for 85893 units, accounting for the total amount payable 86.76% ; Total amount of security deposit payable 1598.69 100 million yuan, already paid 867.74 The hundred million yuan accounts for the total amount payable. 40.02% The mining rights holder completes the remediation obligations and returns [it]. ( Use ) The margin amount is approximately 307.4 100 million yuan, accounting for the paid margin. 35.4% 。

　　According to the division of responsibilities outlined by the Ministry of Natural Resources in the deposit system for the remediation and restoration of mine geological environments, mine geological environmental issues that arose before the establishment of the deposit system or whose responsible parties have disappeared are considered legacy issues and shall be addressed and restored by local governments at or above the county level. After the establishment of the deposit system for the remediation and restoration of mine geological environments, mine geological environmental issues caused by operating mines shall be addressed and restored by the mining enterprises themselves.

　　However, after several years of rapid expansion and growth, mining companies have now entered a period of low mineral prices. As a result, most mining companies are seeing their profits gradually erode—and some have even fallen into losses. The governance capabilities and willingness to govern of these companies remain unclear. “ This year's gold price compared to... 2014 Prices have fallen again this year, with gold dropping by more than 20 yuan per gram. For us, whose annual mine-produced gold output is nearly 30 tons, this means a loss of nearly 800 million yuan in profits, resulting in a significant decline in corporate profitability. ” A senior official from Shandong Gold Group told the Economic Observer that, “ Environmental remediation in mining areas has accumulated significant backlogs over the years, partly because this system was only established in recent years. Enterprises do pay fees as required by the national authorities, but the pressure to carry out remediation remains considerable. Gold mining has caused substantial damage to the earth’s surface, leaving behind tailings ponds that now need to be addressed. Moreover, coal mines—whose geological environments have been severely damaged and which have seen declining economic benefits in recent years—face certain challenges in terms of their remediation capabilities. ”

　　The senior official from Shandong Gold Group mentioned above said, “ It is highly necessary to accelerate environmental governance, but could government departments consider appropriately increasing the reimbursement ratio? Currently, the reimbursement ratio for several of our projects is still below... 30% In addition, there is a delay in the return of the margin. ”

Li Xinchuang, director of the Metallurgical Industry Planning and Research Institute, stated that mining enterprises are experiencing poor operational performance and even struggling to survive. It is therefore unrealistic to expect these enterprises to independently fulfill their environmental governance obligations. Instead, government departments need to provide a more comprehensive regulatory framework to standardize corporate behavior and strengthen oversight.

　　 Both banks and the treasury need to step in.

　　In terms of geological environment management, the Ministry of Natural Resources has steadily advanced specialized remediation efforts in recent years, initially establishing an economic mechanism that balances development, compensation, and protection. However, China’s work on geological environmental protection for mines started relatively late. “ Overdevelopment, underprotection ” The mindset has not yet fully shifted.

　　The Ministry of Land and Resources has pledged to improve the margin system. Uphold this commitment. “ Owned by the enterprise, regulated by the government, and earmarked for specific purposes. ” According to the principle, the security deposit shall not be placed into the fiscal account. Instead, mining enterprises will choose a bank to hold the deposit, while the government will strengthen supervision and strictly prohibit its misappropriation for other purposes. The payment of the security deposit must be aligned with the mine’s geological environmental protection and remediation plan, and payments should be made in installments as needed to ensure that sufficient funds are available at all times. For those projects that meet the requirements of the plan and complete remediation on schedule, the security deposit shall be promptly refunded. For projects that fail to meet the plan’s requirements or fail to complete remediation on time, the competent department of land and resources will take charge, draw upon the security deposit, and organize the implementation of geological environmental remediation for the mine.

　　To promote the restoration and remediation of geological environments in mining areas and to support resource-depleted mines in achieving industrial transformation, the Ministry of Natural Resources has... 2005 The country initiated the construction of national mine parks last year, selecting a number of regions with favorable basic conditions and significant potential for tourism development to begin the project.

　　Shouyun Mining Co., Ltd. is one of the enterprises selected. Recently, in an interview with Economic Observer, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Land and Resources stated that, in order to promote the remediation of geological environments in mining areas, provinces and cities across the country have been seeking financial support from the central government. Shouyun Iron Mine is among the enterprises that have received such support from the central government.

　　At Shouyun Mining, consumption of 8 After years of effort and an investment of hundreds of millions of yuan, Shouyun National Mining Park has become one of only two national mining parks in Beijing.

　　At Shouyun National Mining Park, a building from the last century... 60 The brick-red building, renovated from an old structure, looks exceptionally stylish within the mine area. —— Three years after its opening, the Beijing Iron Ore Museum has welcomed countless visitors. Here, the museum chronicles the development history of mining technologies both domestically and internationally, and educates visitors about iron ore knowledge. Just outside the Beijing Iron Ore Museum, you can see the Shouyun Mining Company not far away. ( Full name: “ Shouyun Mining Co., Ltd. ”) Still in production.

　　Iron ore prices have returned to the low levels seen six years ago, and China’s iron ore enterprises have bid farewell to their former glory. Mining operations here now resemble more of an exhibition. This company is already in operation. 55 The iron ore mining enterprise, once a source of annual revenue, has today become a delightful industrial tourism destination, showcasing its craftsmanship to visitors.

　　However, there aren't many companies as fortunate as Shouyun Iron Ore. To date, a total of ___ have been approved nationwide. 72 Qualification for the construction of a national mine park, available. 30 One has been completed and opened, and provincial-level mine parks have been established in various provinces and cities. 41 units, with cumulative funding invested in the construction of the mining park. 22.94 100 million yuan.

　　Among nearly 100,000 mining enterprises nationwide, only a little over a hundred are able to receive financial subsidies and develop into mine parks. Most other enterprises must bear the costs of remediation on their own, and some of these mines are now being left to fall into disrepair.

　　 “ If a company cannot get its own deposited margin returned on time and in full, it will be very difficult for the company to carry out effective governance. ” Li Xinchuang said, “ On the one hand, we need to appropriately increase the guarantee amount; on the other hand, we must step up efforts to return the margin deposits and raise the refund ratio. In addition, we also need to provide certain policy support—enterprises contribute a portion, and the government supplements the rest. ”

　　7 Moon 2 On the same day, at the National On-site Conference on Geological Environmental Management and Mine Reclamation held in Jining, Shandong Province, Wang Min, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Natural Resources, stated when discussing the key tasks for geological environmental remediation that local areas could actively explore mechanisms such as depositing保证金 (security deposits) in the form of bank guarantees and advance withdrawals from these deposits, thereby effectively reducing the burden on enterprises.