Considerations on the system of exploration, production, supply, reserve and sales for strategic mineral resources

(1) Understanding the system of exploration, production, supply, reserve and sales for strategic mineral resources: the system of exploration, production, supply, reserve and sales for strategic mineral resources constitutes a complex of industry chain and supply chains encompassing multiple production and business operations related to geological and mineral exploration and ore mining, mineral processing, smelting, material processing and mineral resources’ trade, reserve and marketing. To enhance the flexibility and level of strategic mineral resources’ industries chain and supply chain, it is essential to premise overall planning and cohesion of “exploration, production, supply, reserve and sales”. Among these, material processing is a critical link where the technical and economic values of strategic mineral resourcesare fully realized. A blockage in this link will not only limit the development level of downstream terminal industries, but also force upstream primary processed mineral commodities to be exported abroad in disorder. This will lead to a situation where efforts in mineral exploration and development cannot increase resource and national security assurance, but have the opposite effect. (2) Analysis of the status of exploration, production, supply, reserve and sales for strategic mineral resources: strategic minerals’ industries chain and supply chain continue to extend and expand outward; domestic investment for strategic minerals’ exploration is inadequate overall; most strategic minerals are overexploited domestically; the competition for global resource allocation discourse power is becoming increasingly complex; there are technical and management shortcomings in exploration, production, supply, reserve and sales to varying degrees. (3) Implementing the newly revised Mineral Resources Law to improve the overall planning and cohesion system of exploration, production, supply, reserve and sales: developing a strategic mineral inventory and supporting policies at the national level; optimize the industrial chain and truly master a set of key core technologies; coordinate scarce and advantageous minerals, and efficiently participate in global resource allocation; strengthen strategic mineral exploration, comprehensive utilization, and resource reserves; improve the legal system for strategic mineral safety supervision.