mineral resources

Core tips

The National Development and Reform Commission held an on-site meeting on private economic development in Nanjing and promoted more than 290 projects with an investment scale of over 280 billion yuan. In the field of mineral resources, how much room is there for private capital to participate?

1. 280 billion investment map

In July 2026, the National Development and Reform Commission held an on-site meeting on the development and expansion of the private economy in Nanjing and released a list of key projects to be promoted. Project covers:

• New energy minerals: Development of key minerals such as lithium, cobalt, and nickel
• Traditional mineral upgrade: Intelligent mine transformation and green mining
• Industrial chain extension: Mineral deep processing and finishing projects
• Mining services: Mining technical services, environmental protection management

Investment size distribution:

• Large projects of more than 1 billion yuan: about 50
• 1-1 billion projects: about 120
• Projects below 100 million yuan: about 120

2. Policy channels for private enterprises to participate in mining

In recent years, the state has continued to relax restrictions on private capital entering the mining sector:

Competitive transfer:After the Mining Law is revised in 2024, mining rights will in principle be transferred through competitive methods such as bidding, auctioning, and listing, and private enterprises and state-owned enterprises will bid on the same stage.

"Through train" for exploration rights:Exploration rights holders who meet the conditions can directly apply for conversion to mining rights without re-bidding.

Mining land innovation:Mine land can be transferred by agreement to reduce the cost of land use for enterprises.

Financing support:Mining rights can be used as collateral to raise funds from financial institutions and activate dormant assets.

3. What thresholds do private enterprises need to cross to enter the market?

Despite favorable policies, private capital still faces multiple barriers to entry into the mining industry:

1. Funding thresholdMining development is characterized by large investment and long cycle. From exploration to production, a medium-sized mine often requires hundreds of millions of yuan in initial investment.

2. Technical thresholdIntelligent mining and green mining have become industry trends, placing higher demands on the technical capabilities of enterprises.

3. Qualification thresholdMining companies need to obtain multiple qualifications such as safety production licenses and environmental protection approvals.

4. Resource thresholdCompetition for high-quality mineral rights resources is fierce, and private enterprises and central and state-owned enterprises are bidding on the same stage, creating considerable pressure.

4. Investment opportunities and risk warnings

Directions worthy of attention:

• New energy key minerals (lithium, cobalt, nickel)
• Comprehensive utilization of tailings
• Mine ecological restoration
• Smart mine system integration

Risk warning:

• Mineral product price fluctuation risk
• Policy change risk
• Risks of raising environmental standards
• Legal risks in cooperative development

5. Lawyer’s advice

When private capital enters the mining field, it is recommended to pay attention to the following legal issues:

• Due diligence must be sufficient: Fully investigate mineral rights ownership, reserves, and surrounding environment before investing.
• The contract must be standardized: Cooperation development agreements, equity transfer agreements, etc. must clearly define the rights and responsibilities of each party
• Approval must be compliant: Major matters such as transfer of mining rights, mergers and divisions must be approved by the competent authorities
• Leave a way out when exiting: The contract clearly stipulates the exit mechanism to avoid being unable to get off the tiger.

Conclusion

With the RMB 280 billion investment opportunity, private capital will have smoother access to the mining sector. However, mining investment is highly professional and carries high risks. It is recommended that companies consult professional lawyers before making decisions to prevent and control risks.

If you are interested in investing in a mining project, please contact Beijing Yingtong Law Firm. We provide full-process legal services such as mining rights due diligence, transaction structure design, and compliance review.

Beijing Yingting Law Firm | Lawyer Liu Jingzhu