Review and improvement of calculation method for mine reclamation bond

Abstract: As an effective way to promote reclamation in mining area, reclamation bond system has been adopted by western countries as early as 1970s. China has also adopted this system in recent years. As it is relatively new, there are still many aspects that need to be improved. The core of the system is how to calculate the amount of bond. If the size calculated is too small, there will be a huge capital gap and great financial burden for the government and community to reclaim the mining site once the mining enterprise escapes the reclamation obligation. If the size calculated is too big, it will restrict the mining capacity and affect economic development. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the problems of the calculation methods in China to find out a scientific and reasonable method to promote the healthy and sustainable development of mine land reclamation bond system. Calculation methods in practice and academia at home and abroad are summarized and contrasted. The result shows that it has been confirmed by international successful practice and theory research that mine land reclamation bond should be calculated according to land reclamation cost. While calculation methods in practice differ greatly in China, and the amounts calculated are often below the reclamation costs, which has affected the fairness and effectiveness of the bond system. Methods of calculating reclamation cost in academia can be divided into 2 categories. One method is to calculate reclamation cost by modifying the 'standard cost'. The other method is to calculate reclamation cost by adding up all of the reclamation fees occurring during the process of mining site reclamation. Both of the 2 methods cannot give consideration to objectivity, scientific rationality and operability at the same time. It is concluded that the bond's calculation basis for each province should be unified as reclamation cost to guarantee sufficient reclamation fund. Aiming at the deficiency of existing calculation methods, this paper puts forward the calculation method and model of the coal mining reclamation bond based on the leading factors affecting land destruction. Firstly, the causes of land destruction by coal resource mining are analyzed and the general factors (the thickness of coal seam, the slope of the terrain, the mining method etc.) affecting the form and degree of land destruction are identified. Secondly, the leading factors affecting land destruction are determined by analyzing the correlation degree between land destruction and general factors. Thirdly, the leading factors are graded and each grade is given a value respectively. And their weights are determined. The coal mining is assessed through the comprehensive condition index of the leading factors affecting land destruction, which is the product of the value of the grade and the weight of the leading factors. The model of the corresponding relationship between the index and the reclamation cost is constructed through the inductive analysis of the reclamation cases. The corresponding reclamation cost per comprehensive condition index is determined. At last, the calculation model of the bond is built by multiplying the total index, the corresponding reclamation cost per comprehensive condition index, the unforeseeable fee, the inflation rate and the destruction area of the calculation unit. Compared with existing calculation models, this model is more objective, scientific and easier to operate. It provides a theoretical support for the unification of calculation methods of reclamation bond based on reclamation cost throughout the country.