Analysis on the Saving Potentials of Mineral Resources in China
中国矿产资源节约利用的潜力分析

Since the liberation of China, especially over the last two decades, China has achieved significant progresses in the field of mineral resources savings. These achievements are well manifested below: savings in energy and raw materials won significant economic and social benefits; the recovery rates of mineral resources have been increased gradually; the comprehensive utilization scale was gradually enlarged; the integrated utilization level of mineral resources was raised annually; and the use of secondary resources was expanded broadly. Having the progresses mentioned above, however, some problems in resource saving in China remain, mainly representing in the following aspects: first, the importance of savings in energy and mineral resources and comprehensive utilization has not been paid high attention around China; second, there is lack of perfect regulation and policies in resource savings; third, the policy-oriented role in renewable resource products has not been strongly played; fourth, the technologies and equipments for resource savings were far behind the practical requirements; finally, the extent of industrialized resource savings were very low. Authors argued that its consumption intensities of energy and mineral resources in China are still very low in comparison to those of some advanced countries in the world. There are six aspects of resource saving potentials as follows: 1) improving industrial structure adjustment and upgrade;2)accelerating technology innovation and reconstruction; 3) raising comprehensive utilization of resources; 4) raising resources recycle rates;5)reducing the product consumptions per unit, and 6)recycling secondary resources. To play the potentials mentioned above and to earn obvious achievements, it is necessary to enhance the knowledge of resources savings, improve related legal systems, strength resources management, rationalize resources prices, play the role of market mechanism, and not the last boost the development of circular economy in China.