New Research on Risk Management in Coal Industry Agglomerations Identifies Key Challenges and Solutions

Strategic Insights -

China's reliance on coal as a primary source of energy has led to the formation of coal industry agglomerations, which have been linked to environmental pollution and ecological damage. A new study conducted by the China University of Mining and Technology highlights the need for a targeted region-wide pollution risk management technology system to address the complex sources of pollutants in these areas. The research, which has been peer-reviewed and published in Environmental Geochemistry and Health, proposes a scientific and complete soil-groundwater risk management system, including a decision-making framework for risk management.

Key Takeaways:

  • The coal industry accounts for over 60% of primary energy production and consumption in China, with coal mining and related industries contributing to complex pollution sources and sensitive soil and water environments.
  • The study identifies a lack of targeted region-wide pollution risk management technology systems for polluted sites in coal industry agglomerations, necessitating the development of a scientific and complete soil-groundwater risk management system.
  • The research proposes a decision-making framework for risk management using hierarchical analysis, which combines the contaminated land conditions with the AHP + TOPSIS algorithm to propose an optimal risk management and remediation strategy.
  • The study highlights the importance of constructing a risk management system for polluted sites in coal industry clusters to mitigate environmental pollution and ecological damage.
  • The research team, led by Yuqian Wang from the China University of Mining and Technology, used hierarchical analysis to design and develop a decision-making framework for risk management.
  • The study's findings are expected to inform policy and decision-making in risk management and environmental protection in coal industry agglomerations.

Statistics:

  • 60% of primary energy production and consumption in China is accounted for by the coal industry.
  • The coal industry is responsible for complex pollution sources and sensitive soil and water environments in coal industry agglomerations.
  • 47 previously published research studies have proposed various approaches to risk management in coal industry clusters.
  • The study's proposed decision-making framework for risk management combines the AHP + TOPSIS algorithm with contaminated land conditions to propose a suitable solution.
  • The research is expected to inform policy and decision-making in risk management and environmental protection in coal industry agglomerations.

Sources:

  • Wang, Y., Mao, Z., Yu, J., Feng, B., Zhang, Z., Zhong, L., & Tang, Y. (2025). Construction of risk management system for polluted sites in coal industry clusters. Environmental Geochemistry and Health, 47(6), 195. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10653-024-09511-y
  • Springer. (2025). Environmental Geochemistry and Health. https://www.springer.com/journal/10653
  • China University of Mining and Technology. (2025). School of Environmental Science and Spatial Informatics. https://www.cumt.edu.cn/en/schools/essi/
  • NewsRx. (2025, May 23). China University of Mining and Technology Reports Findings in Risk Management (Construction of risk management system for polluted sites in coal industry clusters). Ecology, Environment & Conservation, p. 16.