Industry initiative seeks greater financing for mineral exploration

Chinese authorities have called for greater financial support for mineral exploration as the country seeks to expand its domestic reserves of strategically important resources.

An initiative titled Financial Support for China’s New Mineral Exploration Drive was released on Friday at a forum hosted by the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Department of Finance and Fund Management during the 2026 China Mining Conference and Exhibition in Tianjin.

Due to the high uncertainty involved, early-stage mineral exploration often faces limited financing options and weak connections between banks and mining companies.

The initiative calls on geological survey organizations, mining companies, financial institutions and industry associations to strengthen cooperation in support of China’s exploration for strategic mineral resources.

Financial institutions are encouraged to develop services tailored to the mining industry, including loans secured by mining rights, dedicated credit for exploration projects and financing for green mine development.

The initiative also calls on industry associations to act as a bridge between government agencies, mining companies and financial institutions, helping share information, connect projects with funding and remove barriers to cross-sector cooperation.

The initiative was jointly issued by Shanghai Pudong Development Bank, the Chinese Society of Geology and Mineral Economics and the China Mining Association.

According to the China Mineral Resources 2026 report, also released at the conference, China discovered 200 non-oil and gas mineral deposits in 2025, while investment in geological exploration grew for a fifth consecutive year.

From 2021 to 2025, during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, China identified 398 new large and medium-sized deposits of strategic minerals, including oil and gas fields.

It also made major exploration breakthroughs in bulk minerals such as copper, gold and potash.

With demand rising and geopolitical uncertainty mounting, China plans to maintain its mineral exploration drive during the 15th Five-Year Plan period, with a focus on expanding reserves and production, developing exploration technologies and advancing greener mining practices.