The national conference regarding exploring mineral resources came to an end on May 26, 2013. According to Peng Qiming, the Head of National Geological Exploration Division, in order to speed up the approval process, the Ministry of Land and Resources of PRC plans to decentralise the exploration approval work to the Land and Resources Department of each province. Concrete measures include authorizing each province with approval rights on execution plans etc. In the past each province was required to submit the relevant documents for National Department’s approval.

In March 2013, the State Counsel requested all departments to reduce investment related approvals. As of May 15, a total of 117 administrative approvals or charges have been dropped or decentralized.

In order to promote mining exploration activities, the Ministry of Land and Resources of PRC will be launching additional reforms. Regarding the decentralization of mining rights, the Ministry will give top priority to the permission of to three types of companies that manage to drill, combine capital and technology, and integrate the exploration and mining activities. In the past, China’s exploration and mining rights are separated. These new mining reforms are expected to push strongly social (private) capitals to engaging in exploration businesses.