Three-dimensional hybrid enterprise input–output model for material metabolism analysis: a case study of coal mines in China

China’s energy use has been, and will be for a long time, dominated by coal. The literature has studied little on the material metabolism of coal mines, especially for China, from a systems perspective. The aim of this study is to develop a quantitative framework to investigate the internal material metabolism of coal mining enterprises in China. This framework, three-dimensional hybrid enterprise input–output (3D-HEIO) model, combines scenario analysis and the enterprise input–output model. To illustrate the application of this framework, the material metabolism of Wang Coal-mine (WCM) in Shanxi, China is analyzed. Results show that the WCM has the annual potential to recover 10,862 tonnes of coal, reduce 404,515 tonnes of water consumption, 13 million kWh of electricity consumption, 70 tonnes of coagulant agents, 90,000 pieces of paper, and 146 tonnes of sulfur dioxide and dust emissions, and reuse 100,000 tonnes of coal gangue. The potential of economic profit can be 14.24 million yuan per year.