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**Abstract**
From the outside, this year’s rare earth mining index has seen a significant increase. Despite the large actual production of rare earths, these new mining quotas are still insufficient for many enterprises. The Ministry of Land and Resources has raised the rare earth mining quota—will it be enough for the relevant companies? On June 19th, the Ministry released the “Notice on the Release of the 2014 Total Rare Earth Ore and Tungsten Mining Control Index†(Guo Tu Zi Fa [2014] No. 65), setting the total control indicators for rare earth ore and tungsten mining this year.
The notice clearly states that, before June 30, 2015, applications for new rare earth and tungsten exploration and mining licenses will be suspended, except in six special cases. However, state-designated large rare earth enterprise groups and projects that meet the “production control, storage balance†requirements will not be affected by this suspension.
According to reports from "First Financial Daily," in 2011, the national rare earth mining index was set at 93,800 tons. For the next two years, the number remained relatively stable. Based on last year’s release of 93,800 tons, this year’s quota increased by 11,200 tons, representing an over 10% rise.
An industry analyst noted that the government approved the formation of six major rare earth groups, including Baotou Steel, Minmetals, Chinalco, Luzhou Rare Earth, Xiamen Tungsten Industry, and Guangdong Rare Earth. These groups were given higher mining targets, possibly because after the reorganization, they need sufficient raw materials to operate effectively. “If the restructuring is complete but the companies still can’t get enough resources, that would not be acceptable,†the analyst said.
Despite the increase in mining quotas, many enterprises still feel the pressure. For example, Minmetals Rare Earth announced that its subsidiary Red Gold Rare Earth received 835 tons of rare earth production control indicators, while Dingnan Dahua received 657 tons. Given their production capacities—Red Gold Rare Earth produces 3,000 tons annually, and Dingnan Dahua produces 3,500 tons—the allocated quotas are still far below their potential.
China National also faces similar challenges. Its long-planned 7,000-ton-per-year rare earth separation project has been approved and construction began last year. However, it remains unclear how much quota it will receive each year. “No matter how much quota we get, it's definitely not enough,†one source said.
To manage limited quotas efficiently, many companies adjust their production schedules. They often stop production during the Spring Festival, use the first half of the year’s quotas in April, May, and June, and then gradually resume production in July, August, and September. By November or December, they usually halt operations due to quota exhaustion.
In December last year, Minmetals Rare Earth stated that its subsidiaries had completed their 2013 annual rare earth production plans. To comply with national policies, the company temporarily halted production at its separation plants and will resume operations based on the 2014 production plan and market conditions.
A source told this reporter: “Minmetals Rare Earth is bold enough to disclose its own quotas, which means its facilities are still following regulations. But many other companies don’t know exactly how much they’re allowed to produce, and what to do if they run out.â€
The original intention of implementing total mining control was to protect and rationally develop rare earth resources. However, in practice, some companies have reported that it’s difficult to monitor illegal mining activities, especially with the prevalence of private mines.
According to data from the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, there are 67 rare earth recycling projects across 11 provinces, mainly processing industrial waste like neodymium iron boron, phosphors, and polishing powders. The capacity for NdFeB waste recycling exceeds 200,000 tons, which is more than six times the national production. Some companies, under the guise of resource recycling, are actually building smelting and refining lines, acquiring and processing rare earth minerals through black markets, evading taxes, and disrupting the rare earth market.
In response, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has issued a notice to clean up these recycling projects and continue cracking down on violations of rare earth regulations.