Yunnan issued 1st batch of rare earth, tungsten mining output quotas for 2020

SHANGHAI, May 7 (SMM) – Southwest China's Yunnan province has unveiled detailed allocation of its first batch of rare earth and tungsten mining output quotas for this year.

According to a circular issued by the province’s Department of Natural Resources on Wednesday, Yunnan issued 2,615 mt of mining quotas for tungsten concentrate and 12 mt for rare earth in the first batch for 2020.

Meanwhile, the province reserved 310 mt of mining quotas and 375 mt of comprehensive utilisation quotas for tungsten concentrate, and 63 mt of mining quotas for rare earth for annual adjustment.

Yunnan’s allocation came about three months after central authorities issued first-half 2020 rare earth and tungsten mining output quotas for the country.

In February, China’s Ministry of Natural Resources and Ministry of Industry and Information Technology jointly issued a circular saying up to 66,000 mt of rare earth and 52,500 mt of tungsten concentrate would be allowed to be digged out across the country in the first batch of mining quotas for 2020.

This batch of quotas for the country accounted for 50% of last year's allocation, and the second batch is expected to be announced in the second quarter.