Yanbao Energy’s Water Cutoff Curtain Technology for Open-pit Coal Mines Reaches International Advanced Level

China National Coal Association (CNCA) announced on February 19 that the “water cutoff curtain technology for open-pit coal mines,” jointly developed by Yanbao Energy under China Energy Investment Corporation and CCTEG Xi’an Research Institute, had passed the technology assessment of CNCA and reached the international advanced level.

Initiated by China Energy, the innovative research on “water cutoff curtain technology for open-pit coal mines” is China’s first major specialized research and practice project to use underground cutoff curtain technology to intercept mine water and reduce emissions. With a total investment of 230 million yuan, the project was launched in 2018 and was accepted by the expert penal on September 19, 2020.

The water cut-off curtain project under construction.

Application of the technology in Yanbao Energy’s Zhanihe open-pit coal mine has proved effective. By constructing water interception curtain on the periphery of coal seam outcrop, the company has achieved the goals of removing water from coal seams, protecting grassland ecosystem and groundwater resources, and mining in a safe, efficient and eco-friendly manner. The technology was also promoted to Yuanbaoshan coal mine in Inner Mongolia, where it has produced significant social and economic benefits while contributing to ecological sustainability. So far, the technology has applied for 12 patents and obtained eight patents, with 20 related papers and a book published.

This technology spearheads China’s efforts to intercept mine water and reduce emissions by building water cutoff curtain. It provides new concepts and new solutions for groundwater desludging and control, safe and green mining, and energy saving and carbon reduction in open-pit coal mines in the eastern grassland area of China, and has significant reference values for ecological environment restoration in grassland, water resources protection in open-pit mines, and water damage prevention and control. The research results can be promoted and applied extensively.