A major notice from the Ministry of Natural Resources: Encourages geological exploration agencies and mining enterprises to submit proposals for exploration blocks, thereby promoting the exploration of strategic minerals.

Notice from the General Office of the Ministry of Natural Resources on Encouraging Geological Exploration Units and Mining Enterprises to Submit Proposals for Exploration Blocks to Promote Strategic Mineral Exploration
Natural Resources Office Document No. 32 [2024]

To the natural resources authorities of all provinces, autonomous regions, and municipalities directly under the central government, and to the Natural Resources Bureau of the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps:

　　To thoroughly implement the spirit of General Secretary Xi Jinping’s important reply to the Sixth Geological Brigade of the Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources, to carry out the decisions and arrangements of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council, to accelerate the new round of strategic actions for breakthroughs in mineral exploration, to support increased reserves and production of strategic minerals, and to enhance China’s domestic resource security, the following notice is hereby issued regarding efforts to encourage geological survey institutions and mining enterprises to submit proposals for exploration blocks and to promote strategic mineral exploration.

　　I. Encouraging the Submission of Recommendations for Strategic Mineral Exploration Blocks

　　Encourage geological exploration entities and mining enterprises to leverage existing geological data or integrate it with ongoing geological surveys, and, in accordance with the mineral‑type management authorities specified in the “Opinions of the Ministry of Natural Resources on Several Matters Concerning the Deepening Reform of Mineral Resource Management” (Document No. 6 [2023] of the Ministry of Natural Resources), submit proposals for exploration blocks to the Ministry of Natural Resources or the provincial natural resources administrative authorities. Such block proposals shall be submitted as a dossier, including results and insights from previous geological work, relevant geological reports, exploration reports, or scientific research reports, together with a clearly defined scope of the proposed exploration block. For areas within the proposed block that have previously undergone exploration activities, supporting documentation such as field maps and analytical test reports must be attached, along with information on the responsible entity, the person(s) accountable, and the source of funding.

　 　II. Strengthen the Verification of Block Recommendations

　　The competent authority receiving the proposed exploration block shall conduct a verification to determine whether the proposed area is subject to any prohibitive or restrictive provisions under relevant laws and regulations, territorial spatial planning, or mineral resource planning. At the same time, it shall mobilize technical expertise to review the submitted documentation package, making full use of the findings from basic geological surveys and mineral resource potential assessments to evaluate the scientific soundness of the proposed block. Based on the results of the regional prohibitive and restrictive‑provision review and in accordance with the regulations governing the establishment of mining rights, the authority shall rationally define the block’s boundaries and scientifically delineate the scope of the exploration license to be granted.

　 　III. Properly Conduct the Transfer of Exploration Blocks

　　Encourage geological exploration entities and mining enterprises to obtain prospecting rights through competitive means. The competent authorities shall comprehensively employ tendering, auction, and public listing to transfer prospecting rights, and explore shifting the primary method of transferring such rights from public listing to a diversified approach that includes tendering and other mechanisms. In the evaluation process, priority should be given to technical factors such as exploration planning—covering the foundation of previous geological work, prior interpretations and assessments, exploration objectives and tasks, technical approaches, methods and tools, annual exploration plans or schedules, budgetary allocations, and supporting measures—as well as green‑mining practices, with corresponding increases in their weighting. Where circumstances permit under relevant regulations, prospecting rights may be transferred via negotiated agreements. After completing the requisite procedures, the successful bidder shall proceed with the formalities for obtaining prospecting rights and commence exploration activities.

　　During the tendering and transfer process, it is necessary to implement the requirements of the “Opinions on Innovating and Improving Institutional Mechanisms to Promote the Standardized and Healthy Development of the Tendering and Bidding Market” (General Office Document No. 21 [2024]), and select the winning bidder based on merit.

　　This notice shall take effect from the date of its issuance.

Office of the Ministry of Natural Resources

July 2, 2024