As a country rich in resources and a major mining nation, the level of exploitation and utilization of our mineral resources has long been a subject of intense debate. Therefore, conducting a comprehensive “health check” on the state of mineral resource development and utilization might help us gain a clearer understanding of the actual situation.

　　As is well known, China is the world’s largest developing country and will continue to maintain an appropriate pace of economic development both now and in the coming period. However, in line with national requirements, the current stage of economic development must move away from the traditional growth model characterized by high resource consumption, heavy pollution, and low efficiency.

　　Among various industries, mineral resources serve as an essential foundation for national economic and social development. Therefore, their rational exploration, development, and utilization, as well as the transformation and upgrading of related industries, have undoubtedly become key priorities in the current construction of an ecological civilization. To further implement the conservation and efficient use of mineral resources and to promote ecological civilization, in 2016, the former Ministry of Land and Resources, the National Development and Reform Commission, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, the Ministry of Finance, and the National Energy Administration—the five relevant government departments—jointly issued the "Work Plan for the Survey and Assessment System of the Level of Mineral Resource Exploration and Utilization."

　　In August 2017, the former Ministry of Land and Resources issued the "Measures for the Pilot Survey and Assessment of the Level of Mineral Resource Development and Utilization," designating seven provinces and three oil and gas companies to carry out pilot work on 11 mineral types, including coal. After more than six months of concerted efforts by the pilot provinces (and regions) and the technical support units, the nationwide pilot survey and assessment work has generally progressed smoothly.

　　On May 23, a mid-term results summary and exchange meeting for the pilot project on surveying and assessing the level of mineral resource exploration and utilization was held in Beijing. According to information disclosed at the meeting, there is still considerable room for improvement in China's level of mineral resource exploration and utilization.

　　Why is it necessary to conduct surveys and assessments of development and utilization levels?

　　Conducting surveys and assessments of the level of mineral resource exploration, development, and utilization is an important measure for accelerating the advancement of ecological civilization in the mining sector. In 2015, the Party Central Committee and the State Council issued guidelines and a comprehensive reform plan to accelerate the building of ecological civilization, designating the Ministry of Natural Resources as the lead agency for establishing a system of surveys and assessments on the level of mineral resource exploration, development, and utilization, and setting forth a clear timetable and roadmap. General Secretary Xi Jinping recently delivered an important speech at the National Conference on Ecological and Environmental Protection, putting forward new requirements for advancing ecological civilization in the new era. These requirements also set new and higher standards for the exploration, development, and utilization of mineral resources. Conducting surveys and assessments of the level of mineral resource exploration, development, and utilization—to gain a clear understanding of the situation and grasp the current status—is essential for implementing refined management, targeting efforts precisely, effectively enhancing the efficient and intensive use of resources, reducing the intensity of mineral resource exploitation, and improving the ecological environment. This task is not only a crucial component of ecological civilization construction but also a vital lever and platform for promoting the comprehensive conservation and integrated utilization of mineral resources, playing a significant role in strengthening the capacity to ensure the supply of mineral resources.

　　Conducting surveys and assessments of the level of mineral resource exploration, development, and utilization is a crucial foundational task for promoting high-quality development in the mining industry. At its core, high-quality development hinges on addressing the question of “whether it’s good or not.” The fundamental approach to achieving high-quality development involves driving transformations in quality, efficiency, and growth drivers. Faced with new situations and emerging demands, it has become imperative for the mining industry to thoroughly ascertain the current level of mineral resource exploration, development, and utilization in China. Only by gaining a firm grasp of and objectively evaluating this level can we scientifically formulate management policies, comprehensively employ a variety of tools—including administrative, economic, and technological measures—to enhance the efficiency of mineral resource utilization, accelerate the transformation and upgrading of the mining industry, and foster a production model that is both resource-efficient and environmentally friendly.

　　Conducting surveys and assessments of the level of mineral resource exploration, development, and utilization is a practical necessity for fulfilling the regulatory functions related to the exploration, development, utilization, and protection of mineral resources. The newly established Ministry of Natural Resources, as the agency responsible for the unified management of natural resources—including mountains, water, forests, farmland, lakes, and grasslands—has as one of its primary functions the regulation of the exploration, development, utilization, and protection of these natural resources. Conducting a unified survey and evaluation of the level of mineral resource exploration, development, and utilization is a preliminary step in fulfilling these regulatory functions. Currently, such surveys and assessments are limited to specific time periods, particular mineral types, or specific regions; they have yet to yield systematic, comprehensive, and continuous survey and evaluation results. Moreover, there is no unified system of survey and evaluation indicators, policy frameworks, assessment mechanisms, or statistical analysis systems in place—a situation that urgently needs to be addressed.

　　The pilot investigation and assessment work has achieved phased results.

　　The pilot program for surveying and assessing the level of mineral resource exploration and development is divided into three phases: preparation, implementation, and compilation and summarization. It is understood that since the launch of the pilot program, the departments of land and resources and the technical support units in each pilot province (or region) have attached great importance to the initiative, strengthened organizational leadership, carefully planned and executed the work, and actively explored new approaches. Overall, the progress of the work has been smooth.

　　——The preparatory phase of the pilot program has been fully completed. The land and resources departments of each pilot province (or autonomous region) have established pilot work leading groups headed by department leaders and composed of relevant divisions and units, thereby providing strong organizational support. In light of local conditions, each region has formulated its own pilot work plan, clearly defining the division of responsibilities, specific tasks, work schedules, and supporting measures, ensuring that all aspects of the work are well-planned and under control. By means such as purchasing services, we have carefully selected technical support institutions and secured funding for the pilot program. Through mobilization meetings and training sessions, we have stepped up publicity and training efforts aimed at land and resources management personnel from pilot cities and counties, selected mining enterprises, and relevant technical staff, enabling them to become thoroughly familiar with this pilot initiative. A total of nearly 1,000 person-times have been trained throughout the process. In summary, the preparatory phase has been fully completed, laying a solid foundation for carrying out the investigation and evaluation pilot work effectively.

　　——The implementation phase is progressing smoothly. The investigation typically involves three steps: a comprehensive survey to ascertain the baseline data in the public disclosure system, self-inspections conducted by mining enterprises, and on-site investigations. The work to clarify the baseline data and complete the self-inspections has been largely finished. Each pilot province (or region) has analyzed and organized the information submitted through the public disclosure system for mining rights, thereby identifying the list of mines to be investigated and assessed in their respective regions, as well as the list for on-site verification, and has obtained the relevant data. According to preliminary statistics, as of the end of April, a total of 1,851 mines had been surveyed, of which 1,607—representing 86.8%—had completed their self-inspections. The self-inspection work has been fully completed in four provinces (or regions): Jiangxi, Zhejiang, Henan, and Ningxia. On-site verification is now steadily and orderly underway. Based on the requirement of covering all large- and medium-sized mines and conducting on-site inspections at a rate of 20% for small mines, a total of 880 mines need to undergo field verification. According to preliminary statistics, as of the end of April, 258 mines have undergone on-site verification through methods such as interviews, document reviews, and on-site inspections, achieving a completion rate of 29.3%. Heilongjiang and Hunan have both exceeded a 60% completion rate for on-site verification. Ningxia has already completed its investigation and assessment work.

　　——The pilot evaluation methods continue to be innovated and optimized. Each pilot province (or region), guided by the “Technical Guidelines for Assessing the Level of Mineral Resource Development and Utilization (Trial)” (hereinafter referred to as the “Guidelines”), has conducted research and exploration tailored to its own specific conditions, developing evaluation methods that best suit its needs. For example, Zhejiang Province, building on the evaluation methods developed by the Ministry, has conducted in-depth research and actively pursued innovation, taking into account its own local realities and the requirements of the reform of the ecological civilization system. It has preliminarily established a comprehensive evaluation approach featuring “three-rate indicators plus comprehensive information items.” In terms of survey content, while building upon the “three rates,” Zhejiang has added aspects such as the mining stage, ore-processing stage, comprehensive utilization, ecological protection, mine economics, as well as honor-related information and information on untrustworthiness. In terms of evaluation, the importance and influencing factors of each evaluation item throughout the entire process of mine development and utilization are comprehensively considered, and the weighting of each evaluation item is determined accordingly.

　　At the conference, reporters learned that although the pilot program has achieved some initial successes, it still faces numerous challenges. First, overall progress has been unsatisfactory. Currently, with just over three months remaining until the pilot program’s completion deadline, some provinces have yet to finish their self-assessments; on-site verification has not even begun in certain areas, and evaluations remain largely incomplete. Second, many mines have already ceased operations, making it difficult to collect survey data. For example, among Shandong’s 138 iron ore mines, 110 are currently shut down, with only 28 still in production; in Jiangxi, all 55 rare-earth mines surveyed have ceased operations. Furthermore, incomplete documentation for some small mines has posed significant difficulties for the survey process. Third, the evaluation indicators and methods need further refinement. Taking the “three rates” indicator as the core, the results of the Ningxia pilot assessment have largely confirmed their alignment with the actual development and utilization levels of mines. However, to meet the requirements of ecological civilization construction, other factors must also be taken into account. Fourth, exploration of innovative, differentiated incentive and constraint mechanisms remains unresolved.

　　The investigation and assessment work will be accelerated.

　　The survey and assessment of the level of mineral resource exploration and development is a pioneering endeavor with few precedents to draw upon, requiring us to explore and refine our approach through pilot programs. According to reports, the survey and assessment is a key priority for this year, and the tasks have now been clearly defined. The critical next step is for each pilot province (or region) and the technical support units to focus on the pilot objectives, actively innovate, and ensure high-quality completion of the pilot tasks.

　　The meeting called for strengthening organizational leadership and accelerating the pace of work. All pilot provinces (and autonomous regions) and technical support units should, in accordance with the requirements of the “Pilot Measures,” enhance implementation and organization, adopt effective measures, and speed up the completion of self-checks and on-site verification efforts, thereby laying a solid foundation for the next phase of work.

　　The meeting proposed strengthening research into comprehensive assessment techniques and methodologies. Assessments are divided into compliance assessments and comprehensive assessments; while compliance assessments are relatively straightforward, comprehensive assessments pose greater challenges. All pilot provinces (and autonomous regions) and technical support units should intensify their research efforts. Building on the foundation of compliance assessments, they should refine the comprehensive assessment indicator system, improve technical methods and procedures, and meet the needs of aggregated analysis of development and utilization levels across similar mines, different mineral types, various industries, and diverse regions.

　　The meeting held that efforts should be stepped up to explore incentive and constraint mechanisms. At the heart of the pilot program is the establishment of differentiated incentive and constraint mechanisms based on and guided by the results of surveys and assessments. Each pilot province (or region) may intensify its innovation efforts, actively promote the development of incentive and constraint mechanisms, and thereby generate replicable and scalable experiences and best practices.

　　The meeting emphasized the importance of conducting thorough summarization, refinement, and enhancement. During the pilot phase, each pilot province (region) and technical support unit should diligently carry out summary work, promptly identifying and documenting their experiences and best practices, deeply analyzing existing problems, and proposing feasible countermeasures and recommendations. It is understood that the China Institute for Land and Resources Economics will, based on the summary reports from all pilot units, conduct a comprehensive review of the pilot work, produce a national pilot work report, and draft the "Measures for Surveying and Evaluating the Level of Mineral Resource Development and Utilization," thereby laying a solid foundation for full-scale promotion.