The government will complete 30 percent of projects to rehabilitate the damage caused by 3,300 closed and idling mines across the nation by 2026. It will implement projects to restore forests to offset 1,400 tons of carbon dioxide annually thereafter.
These steps were announced as part of the 4th Mine Damage Prevention Master Plan, announced by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy (MOTIE) on Feb. 14.
The master plan calls for mandatory measures to be established every five years. The latest was established following meetings with the mining industry, related organizations and local governments in the areas, damaged by mines and public hearings.
The 4th Mine Damage Prevention Master Plan sets a goal of finishing 30 percent of projects to rehabilitate areas damaged by closed and idling mines across the nation and projects to restore forests to offset 1,400 tons of carbon dioxide annually from 2026.
A fourth fact-finding survey of areas, damaged by mines between last May and September, showed that out of 5,475 closed and idling mines across the nation, 3,300 sustained damages.
Some 1,566 mining sites had been rehabilitated, showing a completion rate at 21.8 percent.
During the period between 2022 to 2026 of the 4th Mine Damage Prevention Master Plan, projects to restore the damage sustained by 1,232 areas will be implemented, and damages sustained by 588 sites will be rehabilitated, showing a completion rate of 30 percent.
In particular, projects to offset carbon dioxide through forest restoration projects and expand the use of low-carbon mine prevention facilities will be implemented as part of efforts to put into practice carbon neutrality.
First, the government will introduce a regional mine damage integration treatment system of managing regional areas. As a result, 57 rehabilitation candidate sites will be divided into 10 regional areas for integrated management.
Mine damage rehabilitation projects will be expanded to working mines to cope with damages caused by mines from the development stage.
The step is designed to settle grievances related to environmental damages and minimize the costs of restoring damage after mines are closed.
The government will expand the portion of forest restoration projects, and the ratio of carbon absorption forests and projects to prevent mine damages through forest carbon offset projects.
The Korea Forest Service will certify carbon absorption amounts for companies and local governments’ efforts to absorb carbon dioxide through voluntary forest carbon offset projects, which will be allowed to be sold or donated to a third party.
The government plans to expand the use of facilities designed to prevent mine damage, such as low-carbon emitting water purification facilities, using electricity from photovoltaic power and small hydro power generation units.
The government plans to conduct field inspections for mine damage, considering the scope of damage and project size, and prioritize the implementation of related mine damage rehabilitation projects.
It plans to create synergetic effects by connecting mine damage rehabilitation projects with regional development projects for shared growth, and ones designed to reclaim polluted farming areas, as requested by the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs.
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