China should focus on the development and utilisation of nickel and cobalt resources

SHANGHAI, Mar 12 (SMM) – Development and utilisation of nickel and cobalt resources remain as China's main focus, according to Yang Yan, deputy director of the National People's Congress, cum senior engineer of Jinchuan Group Nickel and Cobalt Research and Design Institute/ deputy director of the State Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Nickel and Cobalt Resources

"At the beginning of the development of nickel and cobalt resources, the main challenge was to solve the problem of supply shortages of nickel and cobalt resources in China. At present, China is moving towards the goal of being a powerful country in manufacturing, transportation and aerospace. Therefore, the development and application of nickel and cobalt resources will contribute to the high-quality development of many strategic application fields in China," according to Yang at the Two Sessions meetings held on March 4-5.

The State Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilisation of Nickel and Cobalt Resources was established in Jinchang City, Gansu Province, which belongs to Jinchuan Group. This area has extremely precious nickel and cobalt resources.

In recent years, as China's high-quality development gradually accelerated. in 2021, the Ministry of Science and Technology has deployed research and development tasks for advanced structural materials to improve the independent research and support capabilities of domestic materials, and form independent supply capabilities of key structural materials of aero engines, heavy-duty rockets, domestic large aircrafts, nuclear power engineering equipment, deep-sea oil and gas resource exploitation.

At present, China’s nickel, cobalt, platinum, palladium and copper raw materials are highly dependent on foreign sources, many of which exceed 80%, and the US, the EU, Japan and other countries have listed nickel and cobalt and other resources as key  protection strategies.

Yang suggested that as an key metal that supports China's economy, defense industry and high-tech industry, as well as basic raw materials for new energy vehicle power batteries and high-temperature alloys, China should pay attention to the global distribution of nickel and cobalt resources and the development and utilisation of mineral resources such as nickel and cobalt.