2023 is the first year to fully implement the spirit of the Party's 20th National Congress, a year of economic recovery after three years of new crown epidemic prevention and control, and is also considered to be a difficult year for the global economy. This year, China's mining industry worked hard and forged ahead, with continuous major and happy events, and made new progress and new achievements in green development, scientific and technological research, and management reform. Starting from today, this newspaper will publish inventory articles one after another. Please pay attention.

Under the background of increasing uncertainty in the international mining market and accelerating the transformation of global mining, China's mining industry will show strong resilience for high-quality development in 2023. The reform of mineral resources management has been further promoted, a new round of prospecting breakthrough strategic action has been fully launched, exploration investment has continued to pick up, a number of strategic mineral reserves have achieved growth, mining innovation and development, green development, transformation and development steps are sonorous ...... While promoting economic growth, China's mining development has also injected strength into the global economic recovery.

Mineral resources management reform to accelerate in-depth

Voice-over: "The question raised by this reporter is very important." On July 11, at the press conference of the State Council Information Office, Minister of Natural Resources Wang Guanghua gave a concise and powerful opening, allowing the eyes and shots in the venue to gather instantly. With regard to "further consideration and arrangements for promoting the domestic exploration and development of the country's important energy and mineral resources and increasing reserves and production," Wang Guanghua's words are even more resounding. "in the next step, we will continue to optimize and improve relevant policies with relevant departments. to create a good environment for all kinds of social subjects to invest in mineral exploration and development". On July 28, the Ministry of Natural Resources issued the Opinions on Deepening the Reform of Mineral Resources Management. On December 1, the revised draft of the Mineral Resources Law was adopted by the executive meeting of the State Council, which is one step closer to the official introduction... In 2023, the Ministry of Natural Resources focused on promoting major reforms, the intensive introduction of mineral resources management policies, and the continuous release of policy dividends.

Comment: The package of policies on mining rights transfer transactions, mineral resources exploration and mining, mining land, etc. is problem-oriented, focusing on the hotspots and difficulties of mining development, solid and powerful, precise and orderly, and committed to stimulating the enthusiasm of various social entities and making new The round of prospecting breakthrough strategic actions provides a solid institutional guarantee and creates a good policy environment for the high-quality development of the mining industry.

A new round of prospecting breakthrough strategic action launched in an all-round way

Voice-over: "This is the time when the country is in urgent need of strategic minerals/orders arrive, the horn blows again/quietly, and the team has already assembled in the prospecting target area." With the convening of the National Natural Resources Work Conference at the beginning of the New Year, a new round of prospecting breakthrough strategy has been fully launched. Focusing on strengthening the domestic exploration and development of important energy and mineral resources and increasing storage and production, many places have merged into a new round of prospecting breakthrough strategic action. Henan, Hubei, Anhui and other places have prepared implementation plans and deployed related measures. Sichuan, Xinjiang, Hunan and other places have established exploration funds to explore diversified geological exploration investment mechanisms......

Comment: In recent years, the uncertainty of my country's energy resource supply and demand environment has increased significantly, and the urgency and importance of ensuring national energy resource security has become increasingly prominent. In particular, the promotion of Chinese-style modernization requires a strong guarantee of energy resources. The new round of prospecting breakthrough strategic action has ignited the enthusiasm of geological and mining people to serve the country, and has achieved phased results. In the future, expect more and greater results to follow.

Issuance of programmatic documents in the field of mine safety production

Voiceover: "Workers, let's first test how long we hold our breath, take a deep breath, and then hold our breath." As time went by, everyone began to "blush". More than 40 seconds, some workers can not hold, began to gasp... November 23rd 10:30, Henan energy Xinqiao coal mine propaganda team opened the prelude to safety education. The "Opinions on Further Strengthening Mine Safety Production Work" issued by the Central Office and the State Council in September is one of the important contents of its preaching. It transforms the safety "principle" into an understandable and grounded "vernacular". The way of experience "publicizes" the characteristics and "sound" enters the hearts of the people.

Comment: For the mining field, safety is the foundation. The "Opinions on Further Strengthening Mine Safety Production Work" is the first programmatic document in the field of mine safety production issued by the Party Central Committee and the State Council since the founding of New China. It fully reflects the Party Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at the core of mine safety production. The great importance attached to the work is the basic follow for the work of mine safety in the new era. It has great practical significance and far-reaching historical significance. Its implementation is not only conducive to fundamentally eliminate the hidden dangers of accidents and solve problems, but also helps to speed up the transformation of mine safety management mode to pre-prevention, and further improve the comprehensive level of mine safety production.

New progress has been made in the construction of ecological civilization in the mining field.

Voiceover: the "base" of the earth, the "eyebrow" of the drainage ditch, the "makeup" of the trees and shrubs... A set of ritual feeling is full of scientific and reasonable process, so that the Yin of the Wanjiang River, the green hills of the Qingyang County reproduce the appearance of the past. In 2023, China's green mine construction made new progress. In November, the "Notice on Further Strengthening the Construction of Green Mines (Draft for Solicitation of Comments)" solicited opinions from the public, and changed the positioning of green mine construction from demonstration to comprehensive promotion.

Comments: The construction of green mines and the promotion of ecological restoration of mines are important measures for the construction of ecological civilization in the mining field. As a systematic project, green mine construction and mine ecological restoration integrate the concepts of scientific order, environmental controllability, and ecological sustainability into the whole life cycle management of mines, and incorporate individual mines into large watersheds and natural ecosystems for unified consideration., Unified governance, and constantly pursue the optimization of resources, environment, economy, and social benefits, and contribute more and higher-quality ecological civilization achievements to the modernization of harmonious coexistence between man and nature.

Shandong Gold Proves World-class National Largest Single Gold Deposit

Voiceover: in the summer of 2023, for Shandong, the continuous high temperature weather and fickle typhoon are no more impressive than the discovery of gold mines. On August 2, after being filed by the Department of Natural Resources of Shandong Province, Shandong Gold Group discovered Xiling Gold Mine, the giant single gold deposit with the largest domestic resources in Shandong Province, and accumulated 592.186 tons of gold metal. Before the time was set for 2008, after prospecting design and engineering verification, only one borehole saw mineralized bodies. The cold and cruel reality tested the will of geological prospectors. Go, go to the deep-faith is like gold, hard and calm, but it emits a dazzling light. Finally, a gold ore body with a thickness of 23.98 meters and a grade of 3.14g/ton was seen at the elevation of -980 meters, officially opening the prelude to a major prospecting breakthrough.

Comments: From the census to the exploration stage, it took 23 years. As a representative of deep prospecting cases, the discovery of Xiling gold deposit is a process of "from scratch to existence, from existence to excellence", and continuously conquering deep prospecting technology. The prospecting of Xiling gold mine has great economic value and scientific research value, and is of great significance to promote the high-quality development of my country's gold industry. It not only enriches and perfects the theory of gold mineralization in Jiaodong region, but also provides a reference model for my country's deep prospecting work and existing gold mines. The resource expansion of the rich area provides a strong support for building a world-class gold production base and consolidating a safe and reliable strategic mineral resource reserve.

New Breakthrough in China's Ocean Thermoelectric Power Generation

Voice-over: The sun is shining brightly, making the sky colorful; the water and the sky meet, and the sea is pouring in vast and calm. A huge ship, bright lights in the tense and busy, glow and light, sparkling sea like a golden light ...... This is the ocean floating temperature difference energy power generation device carrying the "Marine Geology II" ship, the magnificent scene of the preparation before the sea test. In August, the marine thermoelectric power generation device was equipped with the "Marine Geology No. 2" ship to carry out the first sea test in the 1900-meter-deep sea area of the South China Sea, and successfully completed the verification of thermoelectric power generation technology. The 20 kW marine floating thermoelectric power generation device is led by the Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey Bureau of the China Geological Survey. This is the first time that China has realized the principle verification and engineering operation of marine thermoelectric power generation under actual sea conditions, which has effectively promoted the development and utilization of deep-sea energy in China.

Comment: Ocean temperature difference energy is an important offshore new energy, with abundant reserves, great development value and potential, and it is also an important field of global new energy research. Prior to the relevant research in the laboratory theoretical research and land test stage. The significance of this new breakthrough is just as the experts said. It verifies the principle and feasibility of the self-developed marine temperature difference energy power generation system, and also verifies the practicability of the utilization of marine temperature difference energy power generation. It indicates that the development and utilization of marine temperature difference energy in China has taken a key step from land test to offshore engineering application.

The reform of geological prospecting units continues to deepen.

Voiceover: July, the Sichuan Basin Zhougongshan project site, the rig towering, steaming. "This is the mineral well with the highest temperature and the richest trace elements I have ever witnessed in my career." A member of the expert group said excitedly. Wellhead water temperature 83 degrees Celsius! New breakthroughs have been made in the exploration of geothermal resources in Sichuan Province. This is another great achievement made by the regional geological prospecting team since the reform of geological prospecting units in Sichuan Province has made phased progress again this year. In March, the regional geological prospecting units of the Sichuan Geological Bureau held a centralized licensing ceremony. The original 25 geological bureaus were geological prospecting units, and 12 regional geological prospecting teams were newly integrated. In Henan, Hunan and other places, such reforms are also continuing to advance. In May, 36 secondary companies affiliated to Henan Yudi Science and Technology Group were unveiled, which became an important phased achievement of the reshaping reform of geological prospecting units directly under Henan Province. In August, Hunan Geological Group Co., Ltd. was officially inaugurated and established, marking the landing of another major achievement in the reform of geological prospecting units in Hunan Province. Hunan Geological Group integrated eight hospital management enterprises of Hunan Geological Institute.

Comments: There is no turning back when opening a bow. Reform is like sailing against the current. If you do not advance, you will retreat. How to fully consider the continuity of geological work and geological exploration team, and maintain the advantage of geological exploration units to the maximum extent? How to give full play to the main role of geological prospecting units and make them more actively integrate into the high-quality economic and social development? The centralized licensing of regional geological prospecting units in Sichuan Province, the centralized unveiling of geological prospecting units directly under Henan Province, and the formal establishment of Hunan Geological Group Co., Ltd. are all important achievements in deepening the reform of geological prospecting units, witnessing the implementation of the reform of geological prospecting units step by step.

China's first 100 billion square deep coal seam gas field discovered

Voice-over: In late autumn in northern Shaanxi, there are ravines and hills, and the forests are all stained. Located at the Shenfu deep coal seam gas field operation site in the town of Railing Fort, Shenmu City, the drilling rig is booming, a busy scene in full swing. This is the place where the Shenfu coalfield once again "amazes" the world. In October, China National Offshore Oil Corporation announced that my country's first 100 billion square meters deep coalbed methane field-Shenfu deep coal seam large gas field was discovered in the 2000-meter stratum on the eastern edge of the Ordos Basin, with proven geological reserves exceeding 110 billion cubic meters. The average gas content per ton of coal in the gas field is 15 cubic meters. At present, CNOOC has deployed more than 100 exploration wells in the area.

Comments: coalbed methane, commonly known as "gas", deep coalbed methane is usually buried at a depth of more than 1500 meters. The amount of coalbed methane resources buried within 2000 meters in my country exceeds 30 trillion cubic meters, of which the deep coalbed methane resources account for about 1/3. For a long time, the exploration and development of coalbed methane in China are mostly concentrated in shallow coal seams. The discovery of Shenfu deep coal seam large gas field is a major breakthrough in China's continuous increase in the exploration and development of deep coalbed methane, which is of great significance to the increase of unconventional oil and gas reserves and the protection of national energy and resource security.

The largest domestic vanadium titanium magnetite mining right drop hammer

Voice-over: Jinsha River Panzhihua, named after the flower, but because of the mine and time and time again attention. In November, the much-anticipated Honggelan Vanadium-Titanium Magnetite Mine (hereinafter referred to as "Honggelan Mine") in Yanbian County, Sichuan Province was auctioned off, and the mining rights were "spent" at a price of 6.1 billion yuan. Sichuan Vanadium and Titanium Industry Investment Development Co., Ltd.

Comments: the auction development of Hongge South mine is a major project of natural resources development in Sichuan Province and even the whole country in recent years, which is of great significance to the improvement of the total amount of vanadium and titanium mineral resources in China. There are four important vanadium-titanium magnetite mining areas in Panxi area, and Hongge area is the mining area with the largest vanadium-titanium magnetite reserves. Hongge mining area is divided into south and north two mining areas. Judging from the background of the establishment of the bidder, it seems not surprising that the Hongge South Mine was finally won by the newly established Sichuan Vanadium and Titanium Industry Investment Development Co., Ltd. The establishment of the company aims to promote the large-scale development of vanadium and titanium resources and the development of industrial agglomeration, coordinate the promotion of resource development, ecological protection and industrial development, cultivate world-class vanadium and titanium material industrial clusters, build a world-class vanadium and titanium industrial base, and build a national mineral The bottom line of resource security.

Many people in the field of geology and minerals were elected academicians of the two academies.

Voiceover: On November 22, people refreshed the official websites of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Engineering over and over again, waiting with bated breath for the release of two important announcements. Just after 17 o'clock, the results of the co-election of academicians of the two academies in 2023 immediately blew up the entire network. The Chinese Academy of Sciences added 59 academicians, the Chinese Academy of Engineering added 74 academicians, and many people in the field of geology and mining were elected. Among the 59 newly elected academicians of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, experts in the field of geology and minerals involve multiple departments, including 8 in the Department of Geosciences, and both the Department of Chemistry and the Department of Technical Science. Among the 74 newly elected academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, experts in the field of geology and mining are mainly concentrated in the Department of Energy and Mining Engineering, and the Department of Chemical, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. Among them, Tang Juxing, Institute of Mineral Resources, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and Yin Yueping, China Geological Environment Monitoring Institute (Geological Disaster Technical Guidance Center of the Ministry of Natural Resources), were elected academicians of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

Comment: This year's election of academicians of the two academies is the first co-election after the implementation of the deepening of the reform of the academician system. While the age structure is more optimized, it will further tilt to the key fields and basic disciplines, emerging disciplines, and cross-disciplines urgently needed by the country, and to undertake major national scientific research. Tasks, major scientific and technological infrastructure construction and major projects and make outstanding contributions to scientific researchers. The election of Tang Juxing and Yin Yueping of the China Geological Survey is both a strength and a popular expectation. Tang Juxing is the chief scientist of the Strategic Mineral Survey Project of the China Geological Survey. He has been engaged in copper and other strategic mineral exploration on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau for a long time, and has made outstanding contributions to ensuring my country's major demand for copper resources and national energy resource security. Yin Yueping is one of the discipline leaders in the field of engineering geology and geological disaster prevention and control in China. He has developed the dynamic disaster theory and risk control technology of complex mountain disasters, and has made outstanding contributions to the safety of major projects and cities in areas with high incidence of geological disasters.

Zijin Mining Acquires Juno Super Large Undeveloped Copper Mine in Tibet

Voice-over: On August 21, Zijin Mining bought a 48.591 percent stake in Zhonghui Industrial for 1.646 billion yuan, thus obtaining a relative controlling stake in Junuo Copper Mine in Tibet, an undeveloped super-large copper mine in China. According to the agreement, the construction and operation of the Juno Copper Mine will be led by Zijin Mining.

Comments: Juno Project is located at an altitude of 4460-5850 meters, which is a difficult "bone". However, Zijin Mining has successful experience in development and operation in high altitude areas. Moreover, Juno copper ore has a large amount of resources, and the ore body is not completely closed, which has a good potential for prospecting and increasing reserves. The official landing of Juno Copper Mine will form a cluster effect together with Zijin Mining's Julong Copper Mine, helping Tibet to become one of the most important growth poles of the company's mineral copper, further thickening Zijin Mining's domestic copper resources reserves and production.

Lithium prices continue to explore the trend of the largest decline of about 80%

Voice-over: In 2023, after a roller coaster-like decline and rebound, lithium carbonate prices continued their downward trend. On December 12, the main contract of lithium carbonate futures hit the limit, down 9.97, to 91700 yuan/ton, a new low since listing. In November last year, the highest price of battery-grade lithium carbonate soared to about 600000 yuan/ton. In just one year, it fell to about 100000 yuan/ton today, with a maximum drop of about 80%. With the decline in the price of lithium carbonate, the performance of listed companies in the lithium industry has dived. Small and medium-sized lithium carbonate companies and distributors are also feeling the pressure. Companies in other fields are also paying close attention to the trend of the lithium market, while lithium giants are accelerating integration to prepare for the next stage of the industry.

Comment: This round of lithium carbonate prices fell, mainly affected by supply and demand. The rapid development of the new energy industry has led to a significant increase in demand for lithium mines and lithium salts, driving prices up rapidly. Based on the optimistic expectations of the future, the middle and lower reaches of enterprises to accelerate the procurement of hoarding, the formation of a large number of high-priced inventory, domestic lithium carbonate supply increased. At the same time, overseas lithium ore and lithium salt imports are smooth. Data show that from January to September 2023, China's lithium ore imports were 3.162 million tons, an increase of 64% year-on-year. Many people in the industry believe that the downward trend of lithium mine prices has been formed and cannot be reversed in the short term. Lithium mining companies need to find a new way out for their future and find a second growth curve.