Mining in India & China

In 2007, in response to concerns about the global impacts of mining from the world’s two most populous countries, David Laurence embarked on two ambitious research projects.

The first was examining the environmental impacts of coal mining in the Zhengzhou region of China.  The research, funded by the Asia Development Bank, aimed to determine the environmental costs and/or benefits of the restructuring program involving the amalgamation of small mines into larger production entities.  There are benefits from the restructuring but the significant environmental challenges need innovative solutions.  The challenges include greenhouse gas emissions from the high methane content of the underground coal; water quality and quantity from mine drainage; dust from coal stockpiles and transportation; subsidence from longwall operations and large, unrehabilitated waste dumps.

The second project looked at improving the sustainability of coal mining in India.  David co-organised (with the Indian School of Mines and ANU) the 1st International Conference on Managing the Social and Environmental Consequences of Coal Mining in India held in New Delhi in November.  With over 90 papers presented and 300 delegates, the Conference was an outstanding success and raised the awareness of the big issues including; greenhouse gas emissions; dust; mine rehabilitation and mine closure; mine fires; subsidence and displacement of villagers by expanding open cut mines.  As a result, a set of recommendations for both governments and industry was developed and the New Delhi Declaration produced.  The research in India will expand significantly in 2008 and beyond into other minerals including uranium.