On April 29, 2026, the Ministry of Natural Resources held its regular April press conference, comprehensively reviewing the achievements of China's mining green transformation. The conference noted that the mining sector nationwide had essentially established a closed-loop institutional framework of "source prevention, process control, and end-stage remediation," with green mine construction accelerating and expanding, and significant progress in ecological restoration of abandoned mines. As of the conference date, over 5,500 provincial-level and above green mines had completed construction nationwide, accounting for over 50% of licensed and operating mines; a cumulative total of 3.35 million mu of historically abandoned mine areas had been restored and remediated nationwide, exceeding the established restoration targets. Against the backdrop of comprehensive green upgrading in the mining industry, hydrogen energy, as a premium zero-carbon new energy source, is deeply compatible with the entire process of mine production, operation, and remediation, precisely matching the requirements for "full life cycle green development" in mining. It has become a key lever for facilitating large-scale green mine construction and driving low-carbon transformation of traditional mining, with broad implementation potential and industry prospects.
I. Core Empowerment Value of Hydrogen Energy for Green Mine Construction
(I) Rooted in Source Prevention, Achieving Zero-Carbon and Pollution Reduction in Mine Production
Green exploration is the "first checkpoint" of green mining development and the core element of source-level mine governance (Xinhuanghe Client, 2026). Traditional mining, material transportation, and equipment operations are highly dependent on diesel-powered machinery, with prominent carbon emissions, exhaust gas, and noise pollution, constituting the core pain point constraining green mine compliance and failing to meet the regulatory requirements for source-level green prevention and control in mining. Hydrogen fuel cell equipment operates with zero exhaust, zero carbon emissions, and low noise throughout the entire process, capable of fully replacing traditional fuel-powered construction machinery and mining transport vehicles.
Through hydrogen energy equipment substitution, mines can cut off pollutant and carbon emission outputs at the production source, perfectly aligning with the green development institutional framework for mineral resources proposed by the Ministry of Natural Resources, and addressing the shortcomings in source-level mine governance. Meanwhile, hydrogen energy equipment can effectively optimize the working environment in mining areas, helping mines break free from the traditional high-pollution, high-energy-consumption production model, driving more mines to complete upgrades to "garden-style mines" and "forest mines," and accelerating the realization of the construction goal of "transforming mining areas into scenic spots and mines into green mountains."
(II) Focusing on Process Control, Facilitating Efficient and Compliant Mine Operations
In recent years, China has continuously improved the green standards system for mining, issuing specialized regulations across exploration, development, and remediation stages, driving green mine construction from "demonstration-led" to "comprehensive advancement." Mine operations are characterized by heavy loads, continuous and high-frequency operations, and fixed sites, demanding extremely high equipment power stability, driving range, and refueling efficiency. Hydrogen energy equipment is well-suited for this scenario: fast hydrogen refueling, strong power output, and stable driving range, meeting the demands of round-the-clock continuous mine operations without the issues of insufficient range and prolonged charging times that affect production with lithium battery equipment.
At the same time, most remote mining areas have weak power grid infrastructure. Green electricity self-supply and green electricity-to-hydrogen models can help mines build independent energy systems featuring "wind and solar power self-generation and self-consumption + on-site hydrogen production + local application." This both meets the green management requirements for mine development stages and improves the process control system for green mining development, while reducing mines' dependence on externally purchased thermal power and fossil energy, lowering production and operating costs, providing economic support for large-scale green mine implementation, and helping mines nationwide steadily achieve the construction targets of 90% of large mines and 80% of medium-sized mines reaching compliance by the end of 2028.
(III) Empowering End-Stage Remediation, Activating Ecological and Industrial Value of Abandoned Mines
Mine ecological remediation is the "second half" of green mining development. China has a long history of mineral exploitation, with a massive base of historically abandoned mines that are highly difficult to restore. Through the model of "central guidance + local implementation + social participation," the Ministry of Natural Resources has cumulatively completed remediation of 3.35 million mu of abandoned mines, exceeding phased restoration targets. However, a large number of remediated abandoned mines currently face issues of limited business formats, weak profitability, and difficulty in sustained operation and maintenance.
The implementation of the hydrogen energy industry provides a completely new solution for comprehensive abandoned mine governance. Leveraging idle land, mine pits, and mountain resources of abandoned mines, PV and wind power projects can be built to produce green hydrogen, while mine pit spaces can be converted into hydrogen storage facilities, creating new energy industrial bases integrating green hydrogen production, storage, and application. This both completes end-stage ecological remediation work such as slope treatment, vegetation restoration, and soil and water conservation, addressing legacy issues of abandoned mine governance, and revitalizes idle mine resources, generating dual returns from "ecological remediation + new energy industry," and accelerating the comprehensive "clearance" of historically abandoned mines.
II. Application Prospects of Hydrogen Energy in the Green Mining Sector
(I) Continuously Expanding Application Scenarios with a Clear Trend Toward Full-Scenario Replacement
As China's green mine institutional closed-loop fully takes shape, green mining development has entered a stage of full-chain, all-round upgrading, and hydrogen energy application scenarios are no longer limited to heavy-duty mine transportation. Currently, hydrogen energy is gradually covering the full spectrum of mining, material transfer, equipment power, energy supply, and ecological remediation. Hydrogen-powered excavators, loaders, drilling rigs, and other construction equipment continue to undergo iterative upgrades and are progressively deployed for testing in mining areas; supporting facilities such as wind-solar coupled green electricity-to-hydrogen production, skid-mounted hydrogen refueling stations, and mine pit hydrogen storage are becoming increasingly popularized, building a complete mining area hydrogen energy supply system. From front-end green exploration and mid-end green mining to end-stage ecological remediation, hydrogen energy runs through the full life cycle of mines, becoming an essential energy source for green mining transformation.
(II) Improving Policy Framework Catalyzing Large-Scale Market Demand
China has established a green standards system covering the full life cycle of mineral resource exploration, mining, and remediation, with regulations for exploration, development, and remediation stages becoming increasingly refined, and comprehensive green mine advancement has become an industry trend. Stringent industry standards and clear mine compliance assessment targets are compelling mining enterprises to accelerate the phase-out of traditional high-energy-consumption, high-pollution fuel-powered equipment and drive clean energy substitution. Meanwhile, hydrogen energy industry support continues to intensify in multiple regions' "15th Five-Year" energy plans, combined with multiple incentive policies covering land, finance, and taxation, providing a favorable policy environment for the implementation of hydrogen energy equipment and mining area hydrogen production and storage projects. The conditions for commercialized and large-scale implementation of hydrogen energy-empowered green mines continue to mature.
(III) Continuously Innovating Industry Models with Sustained Release of Commercial Value
Under dual innovation in technology and business models, the economic viability of hydrogen energy applications in mining areas continues to improve. Leveraging mines' own new energy resources, on-site green electricity-to-hydrogen production can significantly reduce hydrogen costs; modular skid-mounted hydrogen refueling stations offer flexible deployment suited to mobile mining operations, addressing the pain points of high construction costs and difficult implementation of traditional hydrogen refueling infrastructure. Meanwhile, the innovative model of "abandoned mine remediation + hydrogen energy industry" both completes ecological governance tasks and generates new energy industry revenue, solving the industry challenge of "investment only, no returns" in mine ecological remediation, enabling green mines to not only achieve ecological compliance but also possess sustainable commercial operating capabilities.
III. Industry Development Summary and Outlook
Overall, China's mining industry has completed its green transformation from pilot exploration to comprehensive implementation, forming a new pattern of full-chain green development. With its unique advantages of zero carbon, high efficiency, strong adaptability, and diverse application scenarios, hydrogen energy precisely addresses the full-process governance requirements of "source prevention, process control, and end-stage remediation" in mining, comprehensively facilitating quality upgrades of green mines and ecological governance of abandoned mines.
Looking ahead, as green mine construction accelerates comprehensively and industry assessment standards continue to tighten, combined with continuous breakthroughs in hydrogen energy technology and ongoing improvement of the industry chain, hydrogen energy is expected to become the core energy source for zero-carbon mine transformation, deeply integrating into all aspects of mining production and ecological governance, continuously consolidating the green development foundation of the mining industry, helping mines across China fully complete green upgrades and achieve the goal of clearing all historically abandoned mines, and driving China's mining industry toward high-quality, sustainable green and low-carbon development.
![[SMM Analysis] Zinfra × CATL: Building a New "Product + Service" Model for Energy Storage in Australia](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/WyqWW20251217171729.jpg)
![[SMM Analysis] CATL Reshapes Its Mining Strategy](https://imgqn.smm.cn/usercenter/QXufg20251217171730.jpg)
