In terms of other non-ferrous metals, China should maintain the current production level of nickel. As for the nationally preserved mineral resources and traditional exported metals, such as tungsten, tin, antimony and rare-earth, they should be rationally preserved and exploited according to the domestic consumption situation and proper export demands.

In terms of new non-ferrous metals, resources like rare earth, niobium, vanadium, titanium, tungsten and antimony will be further exploited, especially rich resources.

-Structural adjustment of the techniques:

Promote advanced and applicable techniques; establish a set of industrialization demonstration projects; spread techniques, such as trackless mining in pits, pre-selection and discarding of waste, smashing, not grinding (for the sake of energy conservation) and multi-section grinding in dressing plants, and intensified smelting; enhance scientific research, development and technical innovation; improve the potential and comprehensive utilization ratio of resources.

-Structural adjustment of regions:

Bring the comparative advantages of non-ferrous metal mineral resources and energy resources in the mid and western parts of China into full play; accelerate the exploitation of mineral resources in those regions. Encourage companies in Eastern China to invest in developing mines in the west. Utilize overseas resources as much as possible.

-Structural adjustment of Organizations:

Continue to carry out the reform of non-ferrous metal companies; implement the strategy of large groups organizing various big company groups; increase production centralization; extend the industrial chain of non-ferrous metal; cultivate a set of gigantic companies that are competitive on the global market.

4) Polices and measures

-Enhance the work of geological prospecting; focus on prospecting and discovering mineral resources, including copper, lead and zinc; venture into the deep and surrounding parts of existing mines; increase reserves and service time of the resources; explore new mines.

-Support the development of mines in the mid and western parts of China. At present, most of the large copper, lead and zinc mines that are applicable are located in these areas. To keep a reasonable proportion of domestic mines in the mineral raw materials, preferential policies are offered to support the development of mines in the mid and western parts of China.

-Make full use of overseas non-ferrous metal resources, mainly copper, aluminum, lead and zinc; encourage domestic companies to establish raw material-supply bases in countries rich in non-ferrous metal resources.; through various channels, such as venture prospecting, investing in mines, signing long-term supply contracts and contract construction, increase the supply volume of copper, lead, zinc concentrates and aluminum.

Non-metal mining and dressing industry

The non-metal mining and dressing industry is a large category in the nation's economy. It includes the mining of marble, granite, waste materials and other stone stock for building; mining and dressing of clay, scree, gravel, quartz, sand, ferrous sulphide, sulphur, phosphorite, guano, natural alkali, natural mirabilite, natural saltpeter, alunite and arsenic; and mining of lake salt, diamond, vermiculite, porcelain clay, bentonite, and pearlite.

1) Focus of development

The chemical mining industry has played an important role in the national economy. It is an industry that gives strong support to the infrastructure industry, pillar industries and national defense. Thus, it should be developed continuously during the Tenth Five-Year Plan period.

Mostly, there are 11 backbone chemical mining bases (i.e., six phosphorite bases, three ferrous sulphide bases, one kalium mine in Qinghai and a boron mine in Liaoning) to be managed to increase the resource utilization ratio and to improve product quality; encourage mines with favorable conditions to be transformed from single, raw material production to raw material production and downstream processing.

Expected output of major products: In 2005, phosphorite mine output will reach 28 to 30 million tons; ferrous sulphide output will reach 12 to 13.5 million tons.

2) Major policies and measures

During the Tenth Five-Year Plan period, China will formulate strategic exploitation and utilization plans for both strategic non-metal resources, and important internationally strategic resources, such as fluorite, barite, boron mines, strontium mines, barium mines, rare-earth and phosphorite ore; conduct protective exploitation of these resources; exhibit blind excessive exploitation and abusive digging.

Maintain State control on large, high-quality mines, internationally competitive mineral resources and strategic resources. In terms of these resources, while emphasizing the comprehensive utilization and downstream processing, China should strictly restrain their direct export and export of roughly processed products.

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