Guizhou tightens regulations for mining rights tenders

The Guizhou Provincial People's Government has issued new trial measures governing the tendering of mining rights, introducing standardized rules for the entire process of granting exploration and mining licenses.

The measures seek to enhance the allocation of mineral resources, foster green development, and bolster compliance in mining rights transactions. They unify the management of all mining rights granted through public tender by natural resources authorities across the province. They also encourage public tenders for mining rights involving strategically important and advantageous mineral resources, while allowing auctions, listings and negotiated transfers where appropriate.

The rules also strengthen expert evaluation. Tender review committees must have at least seven members, with no fewer than two-thirds being external experts. These experts will be randomly chosen from the provincial evaluation database, with specialized knowledge in areas such as geology, mining, ecological restoration, safety, and metallurgy, tailored to each project's needs.

Environmental responsibilities are also built into the evaluation process, covering green exploration, mine restoration, land reclamation, and water and soil conservation.

The new system is expected to create a full regulatory chain covering tender announcements, bidding, evaluation, opening, and contract supervision. This initiative will assist Guizhou in transitioning from broad mineral rights allocation to a more precise, efficient, and sustainable approach to sustainable resource development.