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China Has The Serious Problem Of Insufficient Guarantee Of Nonferrous Metal Resources

“China has made positive achievements in major nonferrous metal mineral prospecting, yet without any significant breakthrough; with the increase of mining intensity, the declining reserve-production ratio is becoming more and more obvious,” said Shang Fushan, Vice President of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association.

According to the analysis by China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, among major mineral resources, the reserve-production ratio of copper in China was 9.5 in 2010, 20.3 lower than 29.8 in 2003; the reserve-production ratio of bauxite was 16.9 in 2010, 15.9 lower than 32.8 in 2003. Shang Fushan said the sharp decline in reserve-production ratio had continuously raised China’s dependence on foreign countries in terms of major nonferrous metal raw materials.

“Currently and for some time in the future, China is and will still be in the stage of promoting industrialization, urbanization, informatization, internationalization and marketization, with more and more demands for nonferrous metals, while the domestic proven reserves cannot meet the needs,” said him. “Therefore, increasing investment in mining and improving the output of mineral products, particularly copper, aluminum, lead, zinc and other major mineral products won’t glut the market.”

According to the statistics of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, in 2011, China’s metal output from the concentrate of six nonferrous metals i.e. copper, lead, zinc, nickel, tin and antimony was 8.25 million tons, an year-on-year increase of 18%, much higher than 9.3%, the average annual growth rate during the “11th Five-Year Plan” period. As a number of new mines are put into operation, it is expected that in the next few years the output of China’s major nonferrous metal mineral products will maintain rapid growth.

Experts predict that the high demand for mineral resources by China’s economic and social development will continue for some time, and many important energy and mineral raw materials will still be in great need for 10~20 years, and the demand peak is expected to come in 2025 or so. “In the next stage, enterprises should actively participate in the national prospecting breakthrough strategic action and take practical actions to promote resource exploration. Meanwhile, it is required to accelerate technological progress, increase the comprehensive utilization of resources, vigorously develop green mining, develop urban mines, and promote the conservation and comprehensive utilization of resources,” said Chen Quanxun, State Council Counselor and President of China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association.

“We need to accelerate technological progress and strive to achieve breakthroughs in key technologies,” said Shang Fushan. “Currently, technologies needing breakthrough mainly include: common key technologies for mineral resource exploration; key technologies and equipment for large metal deposits underground intensive mining; biological leaching technology for complex low-grade sulfide mineral resources; harmlessization and resourcization of harmful elements in nonferrous metal mineral and other resource comprehensive utilization technologies.”

“At present, the development of green mining and construction of green mines is an important task for nonferrous metal mining development.

Especially for some time in the future, China’s nonferrous metal resource succession bases will be mostly located in ecological function areas with weak carrying capacity, and theconstruction of green mines will be particularly important,” added him.