The province of Sichuan has presented a batch of 32 high-quality blocks for mining rights, with more than half targeting oil and gas, lithium, and gold resources.
On June 16, a centralized promotion conference for mining rights transfer blocks scheduled for 2026 was held in Chengdu. The event showcased 32 premium blocks for strategic minerals. These include 7 blocks for oil and gas, 6 for lithium, 6 for gold, 5 for copper, 4 for lead-zinc, and one each for nickel, manganese, vanadium-titanium magnetite, and bauxite. The blocks are located across resource-rich areas such as Panzhihua, Guangyuan, Leshan, Yibin, Dazhou, Ya'an, Aba, Ganzi, and Liangshan, all considered to have promising exploration prospects and resource potential.
The conference aimed to establish a platform for mining investment cooperation, attracting over 80 well-known enterprises from across the mineral resources industry chain. Attendees included central state-owned enterprises like PetroChina, Sinopec, and CNOOC; provincial and local state-owned firms such as Sichuan Development, Shudao Group, and Shandong Gold; and leading private mining companies including Contemporary Amperex Technology Co., Limited (CATL) and Zijin Mining Group.
Where to begin
Sichuan boasts excellent geological conditions for mineralization and is rich in strategic mineral resources. The province has discovered 136 types of minerals (out of 174 nationwide), with verified resource reserves for 100 types. It ranks first in China for verified reserves of 9 minerals including natural gas and shale gas, second for 6 minerals including rare earths and lithium, and third for 2 minerals such as beryllium and crystalline graphite.
The province's mining sector is characterized by core strengths described as "three goods and three superiors": favorable resource endowment and superior block sources; good policy conditions and a superior business environment; and a positive mining outlook with superior industry prospects. Mining rights transfer revenue in Sichuan has exceeded 10 billion yuan for three consecutive years, with 79 mining rights already transferred for 2026.
Key highlights
Officials from the Sichuan Provincial Department of Natural Resources noted that the province has been continuously improving its mining business environment. Efforts are focused on supporting market entities in seizing development opportunities, addressing pain points in mineral resource exploration and development, and formulating tailored land use guarantee plans for key mining enterprises to facilitate the efficient implementation of projects. Notable exploration results have been achieved for several prospecting rights, including the Leshan North Oil and Gas Block, the Maijitan Lithium Mine in Ganzi, the Huili Hailin Copper Mine, and the Ganluo Ama Lead-Zinc Mine.
The blocks promoted at this conference will be released in batches throughout this year. Details will be published on the official websites of the Ministry of Natural Resources, the Sichuan Public Resource Trading Information Network, and the Sichuan Provincial Department of Natural Resources.