Fujian Strengthens Oversight of Mine Environmental Restoration with 2025 Inspection Plan
Recently, the Department of Natural Resources of Fujian Province issued the 2025 Mine Geological Environment Restoration Inspection Work Plan to enhance supervision over mine environmental remediation and ensure mining rights holders fulfill their restoration obligations.
Key Measures of the Plan
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Scope of Inspection: Starting January 1, 2025, all active and expired (but not yet deregistered) mining licenses (excluding geothermal, mineral water, and sea sand mines) will be subject to inspections. Mines listed in national or provincial green mining catalogs may be exempt, while those with repeated complaints, penalties, or violations will face stricter scrutiny.
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Focus Areas: Compliance includes the preparation and filing of mine environmental protection and land reclamation plans, implementation of restoration funds, and adherence to approved remediation and reclamation measures.
Implementation & Enforcement
Inspections will follow a three-tiered approach (county-level checks, municipal-level reviews, and provincial-level spot inspections) to establish a traceable supervision system. Mines failing inspections will receive a Rectification Notice with a deadline for corrective actions. Those refusing or failing to comply will be blacklisted as non-compliant entities, face credit penalties, and legal consequences.
Enhanced Monitoring Methods
Authorities will leverage remote sensing, drones, and GNSS mobile devices, integrating inspections with mineral resource reserve reports, mining rights disclosures, and resource utilization assessments to improve efficiency and accuracy.
This initiative aims to ensure sustainable mining practices and ecological restoration across Fujian Province.
