Central mining SOEs play a more prominent role in securing energy and resource supplies
As the backbone and pillar of the national economy, mining central state-owned enterprises (SOEs) are playing an increasingly prominent role in safeguarding the nation’s energy and resource security. At a recent press conference held by the State Council Information Office, relevant officials from the State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission (SASAC) of the State Council stated that central SOEs have played a vital role in leading the implementation of major national strategies and maintaining energy and resource security. While ensuring stable prices and supply of critical commodities such as coal, electricity, oil, and gas, they have vigorously propelled key industries through challenges and facilitated their transformation and upgrading. Mining central SOEs are an indispensable force in China’s mining sector, covering the exploration, development, and utilization of energy, metal, and non-metallic mineral resources. They bear significant missions and tasks in driving high-quality development within the mining industry and serve as a leading and supportive force.
Facing a profoundly complex and changing development environment, central SOEs, including those in mining, have earnestly implemented the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council. They have balanced economic, political, and social responsibilities, accelerated high-quality development, achieved substantial improvements in quality and reasonable growth in quantity, and ensured robust energy and resource security. Data shows that during the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the total assets of central SOEs continuously reached new milestones, with an average annual growth rate of 6.9%. They generated an added value of 51.3 trillion yuan, a 44.6% increase compared to the 13th Five-Year Plan period, and achieved a total profit of 12.7 trillion yuan, up 56.2% from the previous five-year period. In terms of key products, output maintained steady growth: crude oil production rose by 24.7%, while electricity generation and sales increased by 38.2% and 40.7%, respectively. These tangible metrics reflect not only the operational performance of central SOEs but also the stable and progressive momentum of the national economy.
As a vanguard in energy supply, the National Energy Group has thoroughly implemented the new energy security strategy and steadfastly shouldered its responsibility for secure supply. On one hand, it has vigorously advanced coal capacity construction, with annual self-produced coal exceeding 620 million tons, accounting for about one-sixth of the nation’s total production and sales. On the other hand, its power supply remains stable and reliable, with annual electricity generation and heat supply each constituting roughly one-eighth of the national total. Additionally, the construction of energy transport corridors has accelerated, with railway capacity accounting for about one-ninth of the country’s total and maritime coal shipments seeing significant growth.
As China’s earliest established steel production base, the Ansteel Group has leveraged its mineral resource advantages to implement a major mining development strategy. It was the first among domestic steel enterprises to elevate mining as a core business, vigorously promoting mineral resource exploration, development, and reserve expansion. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Ansteel established four major iron ore bases in Anshan, Benxi, Panzhihua, and Australia’s Karara, increasing iron ore reserves by over 1.6 billion tons. This has solidified its role as a “cornerstone” in ensuring the security and stability of the steel industry’s supply chain.
As a central SOE focused on metal minerals as its core business, China Minmetals Corporation has adhered to prioritizing “resources” as its top strategy. It actively participated in the national new round of mineral exploration breakthroughs, continuously intensified exploration efforts in the depths and peripheries of its mines, and significantly increased reserves of key minerals such as copper, lead-zinc, nickel, cobalt, tungsten, and tin, thereby enhancing its capacity to stabilize supply chains. The group also successfully established China Salt Lake Group, integrating salt lake resources into its listed subsidiary system to advance the construction of a world-class salt lake industrial base and bolster China’s potassium and lithium resource security.
These efforts are microcosms of mining central SOEs’ full commitment to safeguarding national energy and resource security. They not only demonstrate these enterprises’ sense of responsibility in serving the “national priorities” but also reflect their capability to support high-quality economic and social development. Notably, mining central SOEs have not only ensured robust energy and resource supply but also improved quality and efficiency, with rising “green content” and “innovation content.” By 2025, central SOEs are expected to meet the 14th Five-Year Plan targets of reducing energy intensity and carbon emission intensity by 15% and 18%, respectively, while steadily cutting pollutants like sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. No major environmental incidents causing severe pollution have occurred in recent years. Additionally, by 2025, revenue from emerging industries is projected to increase by over 10 percentage points compared to 2022, with world-class industrial clusters emerging in fields like next-generation information technology, new energy, advanced materials, and high-end equipment, alongside the continuous rise of new business models.
These achievements stem from sustained efforts in technological innovation and the strong advancement of high-level self-reliance in science and technology. By 2025, central SOEs’ R&D investment is projected to reach 1.1 trillion yuan, marking the fourth consecutive year exceeding the trillion-yuan threshold. Over the past five years, their cumulative R&D spending has surpassed 5 trillion yuan, with R&D intensity rising by 0.27 percentage points. This sustained investment in technology has enabled central SOEs to achieve a series of major breakthroughs in scientific innovation, strategic emerging industries, and future industrial layouts, further amplifying their role as a national strategic sci-tech force and fostering the robust growth of new quality productive forces.
In building a modern industrial system, central SOEs—including mining enterprises—have taken proactive and steadfast steps. On one hand, the transformation of traditional industries has accelerated significantly. Large-scale equipment renewal initiatives have been implemented, resulting in the establishment of 70 world-class smart factories and the cultivation of six pioneering smart factories, such as the “Deep Sea No. 1” intelligent gas field optimized through full-service digital twins. Additionally, 39 projects were included in the second batch of national green and low-carbon advanced technology demonstration projects, opening new development avenues for traditional industries through high-end, intelligent, and green transformation.
On the other hand, the resilience of industrial and supply chains has been continuously strengthened. Focusing on critical sectors such as energy resources and high-end equipment, which are vital to national security and people’s livelihoods, central SOEs have carried out major projects to reinforce and supplement supply chains, effectively safeguarding China’s industrial and supply chain security.
As the “main force” of the mining industry, mining central SOEs are not only upholding their mission to ensure national energy and resource security but are also driving the sector toward higher-quality development through green, intelligent, and integrated transformation. (China Mining News)
