China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, together with eight other government departments, has unveiled a targeted action plan to modernize the nation’s gold industry from 2025 to 2027. The plan is built around four strategic pillars: advancing high-end development, adopting intelligent operations, strengthening environmental sustainability, and improving safety standards across the sector.
Key objectives are specified to guide the industry’s transformation. The plan aims for a 5–10% increase in exploitable gold resources and more than 5% growth in combined gold and silver output. It emphasizes technological innovation, seeking breakthroughs in mining and processing techniques. A significant consolidation of production is expected, with large-scale mining operations—defined as facilities processing 500 or more tonnes daily—projected to account for roughly 70% of industry capacity. This consolidation is intended to boost efficiency, lower unit costs, and improve oversight.
Environmental protection is a central theme. The action plan promotes green mining practices that reduce waste, limit water and soil contamination, and lower carbon emissions. Measures include stricter environmental assessments, adoption of cleaner processing technologies, and rehabilitation of mining sites. By encouraging resource-efficient operations and more rigorous pollution control, the plan aims to align gold production with broader national targets for ecological conservation.
Digital transformation and intelligent mining are also prioritized. The plan calls for wider integration of data platforms, automation, and artificial intelligence to optimize exploration, extraction, processing, and logistics. These technologies are expected to enhance operational transparency, improve decision-making, and increase worker safety by enabling predictive maintenance, real-time monitoring, and more precise resource management.
Safety and regulatory compliance are highlighted to reduce operational risks and protect labor. The initiative outlines stricter safety standards, improved emergency response capabilities, and enhanced oversight mechanisms. Training programs and technical support are to be expanded so that workforce skills keep pace with the industry’s technological upgrade and higher safety expectations.
Economic and strategic considerations also inform the plan. Strengthening domestic gold capacity supports financial stability and supply security, while enhancing competitiveness in both production and downstream processing. The emphasis on technology, scale, and sustainability is intended to consolidate China’s leading global position—reflected in its 2024 production of 377.24 tonnes and consumption of 985.31 tonnes—by building a more resilient, efficient, and environmentally responsible gold sector.
Implementation will involve coordinated action among central ministries, local governments, state-owned enterprises, and private industry participants. Specific policies include incentives for technological innovation, guidelines for industry consolidation, stricter environmental and safety inspections, and support for pilot projects demonstrating advanced mining practices. Monitoring and evaluation measures are expected to track progress toward resource, output, and environmental goals throughout the 2025–2027 period.
Overall, the action plan seeks to modernize China’s gold industry through a balanced approach that combines scale, technology, environmental stewardship, and worker safety. If carried out effectively, the strategy could raise production efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and enhance the sector’s long-term sustainability while reinforcing China’s role as a dominant force in the global gold market.