Recently Gansu Provincial Government issued the Opinions of Gansu Province for Implement-ing the 12th Five-year Plan on West Development, which specifies that it is necessary to expedite the development of resource-rich regions and build a number of important reserve bases for mineral resource development.

In the Opinions, it is put forward that efforts should be made to step up the development of resource-rich regions. In accordance with the requirements of long-term perspective, overall planning, strengthened exploration, and rational development, it is necessary to step up exploration and development of coal, oil, natural gas, and shale gas in Longdong Coal and Electricity Base, conduct comprehensive utilization and deep processing of nickel, cobalt and copper, tungsten and molybdenum, and in Hexi area, to extend industry chain; it is necessary to implement the national exploration and reserve plan for strategic mineral resources,forming a number of development and reserve bases of important mineral resources.

In the Opinions, it is required that efforts should be made to press ahead with the development of energy bases. Step up coal resource exploration in middle Ning County, south Heshui County, west Huan County, Lingtai County and Jingchuan County, accelerate the construction of deep processing bases for nonferrous metals like nickel, copper and cobalt in Hexi area, support the exploration and development of tungsten and molybdenum ores, develop Zhangye Tungsten and Molybdenum Production Base, optimize the development of lead, zinc and gold resources in Longnan,deepen the reform of resource prices, and adjust and improve the collection methods of mineral resource tax on oil, coal and nonferrous metals.