Core Insights - The Jinchuan Nickel-Cobalt Concentration Plant has won the third prize in the 2025 China Circular Economy Association Science and Technology Award for its innovative project on the resource utilization of nickel-copper mining wastewater, marking its first significant recognition in the field of circular economy [1][11] - This award signifies the plant's authoritative recognition in sustainable development and its achievement of international leadership in the efficient recycling of mining wastewater [11] Group 1: Challenges Faced - Jinchang City, as an inland arid city, faces significant water resource supply and demand contradictions, which have become a bottleneck for the high-quality development of the concentration plant as production scales expand [3][13] - The wastewater from the tailings pond is complex and difficult to treat, historically relying on natural evaporation, leading to substantial water resource waste [3][13] Group 2: Technological Innovations - The project team developed a systematic and intelligent technology for the resource utilization of mining wastewater, focusing on the reuse of tailings pond wastewater and the recycling of water from the concentration plant [5][15] - During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the plant's ore processing volume exceeded 10 million tons, while freshwater consumption decreased by 10% annually, achieving a water resource reuse rate of over 95% [5][15] Group 3: Key Breakthroughs - The project established a comprehensive wastewater recycling system that integrates production, transportation, supply, and distribution, utilizing a solar-powered intelligent water regulation device to achieve continuous and controllable wastewater output [16] - An independent water supply system was created to manage new water, urban reclaimed water, concentrate return water, and tailings return water, optimizing water usage across different processes [16] Group 4: Equipment and Technical Support - The project relies on "5G+" intelligent construction to develop key devices, forming a reliable technical support system [18] - Innovations include a de-foaming device for thickening machines, a noise reduction device for mixed filtrate, and an integrated filtration technology, resulting in a complete technical chain for efficient water recovery [19] Group 5: Economic, Social, and Ecological Benefits - Since the project's implementation, the annual water recovery has increased from zero to over one million tons, saving hundreds of thousands of yuan in production costs [21] - The annual savings in freshwater equate to the annual domestic water needs of approximately 10,000 people or the irrigation of about 3 million square meters of urban green space, alleviating water scarcity in Jinchang [21] - The project has successfully transformed approximately 4.3 million tons of wastewater into usable water annually, reducing wastewater discharge and evaporation losses, thus contributing to regional water ecological safety [21] Group 6: Future Contributions - The project has been recognized as a replicable and promotable solution for complex mining wastewater resource utilization and green low-carbon regeneration, contributing valuable insights for similar metal mining plants globally [23] - The Jinchuan Nickel-Cobalt Concentration Plant will continue to adhere to innovation-driven and green development strategies, embedding circular economy principles into every operational aspect [23]

Core Viewpoint - The tragic drowning of six students during a visit to a flotation process at a mining facility has raised significant concerns about safety management practices in the industry [1][2]. Industry Overview - Flotation method is a well-established technique in the non-ferrous metal mining sector, with flotation machines being commonly used across the industry [1]. - The flotation process involves crushing and grinding ore into smaller particles, which are then mixed with reagents to separate metals from the ore [1]. Incident Details - The incident occurred on July 23, when the students fell into a flotation tank due to the collapse of a grating board [1]. - The flotation equipment at the involved copper-molybdenum mine is described as relatively large, with particularly large flotation tanks [1]. Safety Concerns - Industry insiders expressed disbelief at the occurrence of such an accident, noting that it is extremely rare and previously unheard of [2]. - Standard safety protocols exist for personnel working near flotation machines, including wearing safety helmets and maintaining distance from certain areas [2]. - The incident has prompted discussions about potential oversights in safety management practices at the involved company, possibly due to the rarity of such accidents [2].