Mining Information

Domestic News

Eight departments issued a document!

Increase support for domestic exploration of lithium, cobalt, nickel and other mineral resources

JUMPER TECHNOLOGY

The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology and seven other departments jointly issued the "Action Plan for High-Quality Development of the New Energy Storage Manufacturing Industry" (hereinafter referred to as the "Action Plan"). It proposes that by 2027, China's new energy storage manufacturing industry will have a prominent full-chain international competitive advantage, a further strengthening of its leading enterprises, and a significant improvement in industrial innovation and comprehensive competitiveness, achieving high-end, intelligent, and green development.

The Action Plan proposes six major special actions: new energy storage technological innovation, promotion of industrial collaborative development, industrial transformation and upgrading, expansion of demonstration application scenarios, improvement of the industrial ecosystem, and enhancement of trade and investment cooperation. Among them, the special action to promote industrial collaborative development specifically proposes strengthening resource security and utilization. Increase support for domestic exploration of lithium, cobalt, nickel and other mineral resources, scientifically and orderly allocate mining rights, and enhance domestic resource security capabilities. Guide domestic enterprises to carry out diversified, orderly, and collaborative overseas resource projects to reduce resource development and transportation costs. Under the premise of risk prevention, support enterprises in strengthening foreign investment and cooperation to improve overseas mineral development and supply capabilities. Encourage production enterprises to improve product lifecycle management, strengthen green product design, and improve product recyclability and reusability. Under the premise of meeting product performance requirements, support production enterprises in using recycled materials.

China Salt Lake officially unveiled

Becoming the largest potassium salt and lithium salt lake production base in China

JUMPER TECHNOLOGY

After nearly a year of preparation, China Salt Lake Industrial Group Co., Ltd., which undertakes the construction of a world-class salt lake industrial base, was officially unveiled on February 8 in Xining, Qinghai Province. Zhu Kebing, a member of the Party group and vice general manager of China Minmetals, will serve as chairman of China Salt Lake. In addition to the previously acquired controlling stake in Salt Lake Co., Ltd., Qinghai Huixin Asset Management Co., Ltd. and China Minmetals Salt Lake Co., Ltd. were also incorporated into China Salt Lake. This new state-owned enterprise has more than 15,000 employees. After completing the key asset restructuring, China Salt Lake has become the largest potassium salt and lithium salt lake production base in China, including the largest lithium salt lake in China, Chaerhan Salt Lake, and the large deposit Liping Salt Lake, with a mining area of nearly 4060 square kilometers. It possesses a complete set of potassium chloride processing technology and world-leading large-scale salt lake lithium extraction production technology. China Salt Lake currently has an annual production capacity of 5.3 million tons of potassium fertilizer, 58,000 tons of lithium salt, and one million tons of salt lake chemical products.

Sichuan Xuanhan discovers the first billion-ton marine soluble solid potassium salt mine

JUMPER TECHNOLOGY

China has made a historic breakthrough in the exploration of marine soluble solid potassium salt in Sichuan Xuanhan, discovering the world's first billion-ton "new type of mixed halite potassium salt mine." Using water-soluble mining technology, it has overcome the traditional difficulties in developing marine potassium salt. This deposit was discovered by Academician Zheng Mianping's team, using the "dual-control composite mineralization" theory to guide exploration. 245 million tons of potassium chloride resources have been proven at a depth of 3000 meters, with a potential of 465 million tons, achieving a resource pattern that balances both land and sea for the first time. This breakthrough not only refreshes the national potassium salt distribution map, but also lays the foundation for building the first marine potassium salt resource base through "U-shaped docking well" solution mining technology and comprehensive utilization technology, which is of strategic significance to ensuring national food security and mineral resource security.

China imported approximately 5.25 million tons of lithium concentrate in 2024

JUMPER TECHNOLOGY

According to customs data statistics on February 17, 2024, from January to December 2024, China's import and export data for lithium products are as follows: approximately 5.25 million tons of lithium concentrate were imported, a year-on-year increase of approximately 31%, mainly from Australia, Brazil, and Zimbabwe; net imports of lithium carbonate were 231,000 tons, a year-on-year increase of approximately 55%; net exports of lithium hydroxide were 113,000 tons, a year-on-year decrease of approximately 11%; net exports of lithium nickel cobalt manganese oxide were 10,900 tons, compared to 2,600 tons in 2023, a year-on-year increase of approximately 319%.

 

Mining Information

International Perspective

The International Energy Agency said

Key mineral markets see a surge in investment due to clean energy demand

JUMPER TECHNOLOGY

According to the International Energy Agency's first annual market review, the market size of key minerals used in clean energy technologies such as electric vehicles, wind turbines, and solar panels has doubled in the past five years. From 2017 to 2022, the energy sector tripled the overall demand for lithium, increased cobalt demand by 70%, and increased nickel demand by 40%. In 2022, the energy transition mineral market reached US$320 billion and is expected to continue to grow rapidly. Last year, investment in key mineral development increased by 30%, with the most significant increase in lithium investment at 50%, followed by copper and nickel.

Simandou iron ore mine to be put into production by the end of 2025

Production target of 100 million tons in 2026

JUMPER TECHNOLOGY

Recently, Guinea's Minister of Mines and Geology, Bona Hila, revealed at the "Mining Indaba 2025" held in Cape Town, South Africa, that the highly anticipated Simandou iron ore project is expected to be put into production before the end of 2025 and double its output in 2026, exceeding 100 million tons. This news has attracted widespread attention from the global mining industry, marking the imminent commencement of the substantial development of the Simandou iron ore mine, the world's largest undeveloped high-grade iron ore resource.

The Simandou iron ore mine is located in Guinea and is one of the world's largest and highest-quality undeveloped mines. The iron ore has four mining areas. The mining rights for the two southern blocks are held by Simfer S.A., a joint venture company composed of Rio Tinto and Chalco, among others, with Rio Tinto holding 45.05% and Chalco holding 39.95%. The northern block is held by Winning Consortium Simandou Mining Company, and China Baowu Group will subsequently lead the development of the northern block. According to China Baowu, the mine has proven standard resources of 4.41 billion tons, with an average total iron grade of TFe 65% or more, and an initial annual production capacity of 120 million tons of high-quality iron ore.

UK's largest lithium extraction facility receives planning permission

JUMPER TECHNOLOGY

Weardale Lithium recently received approval from Durham County Council in the UK to build the country's largest lithium extraction facility, marking a key step for the UK in promoting domestic battery mineral production. The facility will use direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology to extract battery-grade lithium carbonate from geothermal water. Compared with traditional mining methods, this technology can significantly reduce carbon emissions and water consumption. The project is planned to be implemented in phases, eventually achieving an annual production capacity of at least 10,000 tons, helping the UK achieve its electrification transformation and energy security goals.