April 22 marked the 57th World Earth Day. That evening, China Media Group's Focus Report program, themed "Ecological Restoration: Responses from Mountains and Seas", spotlighted mine ecological governance practices and conducted an in-depth report on the ecological restoration project of the Lujiang Alum Mine in Anhui Province, undertaken by CGC, a subsidiary of CECEP. The program vividly presented the transformation of the abandoned mine from an ecological scar into a green engine.
Located on the banks of the Zhao River in the Chaohu Lake basin, the Lujiang Alum Mine has a mining history spanning over a millennium and has long been known as the mainstay of China's alum industry. However, prolonged mining activities resulted in damaged mountain terrain, soil acidification and water pollution, posing severe threats to the water quality of Chaohu Lake and the ecological security of the Yangtze River. In 2021, Hefei City launched the Zhao River ecological clean small watershed governance project, and the Lunan Mine Ecological Restoration Project was included in the priority list. CGC undertook this governance task with a total investment of 264 million yuan and a treatment area of 84.74 hectares.
Confronting complex challenges including steep high slopes, strongly acidic soil and potential geological hazards, CGC implemented systematic ecological environment restoration tailored to local conditions. Building upon ecological restoration, the project team collaborated with local authorities to advance resource revitalization and value transformation, organically connecting the restored land with industrial heritage preservation and cultural tourism development, thereby achieving multi-dimensional wins in ecological, social and economic benefits.
From the green transformation of the millennium-old alum capital to the systematic restoration of the Chaohu Lake basin, and onward to the continuous consolidation of the Yangtze River ecological barrier, the practice in Lujiang, Anhui demonstrates that ecological priority and green development are not optional choices but mandatory requirements. CGC will thoroughly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Ecological Civilization, conscientiously carry out the work deployment of the Party Committee of CECEP for the Year of Overcoming Difficulties, and deliver more exemplary answers for green and low-carbon development amid the green mountains and clear waters.
