The current situation, existing problems and policy suggestions of mining rights management in China’s geothermal industry under the background of “dual carbon”

Under the “dual carbon” background, hydrothermal geothermal heating has unique advantages in energy saving and emission reduction, carbon reduction, and sustainable development. The rapid development of China’s geothermal industry poses challenges to the management of geothermal mining rights. There are certain contradictions between the existing system and the development of the industry and market demand, which require timely exploration and improvement. This paper sorts out the relevant policies of the national geothermal industry, tracks the dynamics of China’s geothermal mining rights market, investigates the demands of geothermal development and utilization enterprises, analyzes the current status and existing problems of China’s geothermal mining rights management, and puts forward relevant policy suggestions. The management of geothermal mining rights in China is the responsibility of provincial-level and lower-level natural resources departments. The main body of geothermal mining rights management is complex, and there is a lack of a unified management system for mining rights. It is suggested to clarify the main body of geothermal mining rights management as soon as possible and form a unified handling process. Chinese law stipulates that “geothermal” belongs to energy minerals and is also a renewable resource, and its corresponding multiple attributes should be clearly defined, innovating the theory of geothermal mining rights fees. Increase investment in resource exploration to understand the resource base. Appropriately allow the superimposed management of geothermal with other types of mining rights, while also paying attention to the recognition and management of geothermal associated resources. Geothermal mining rights are the premise for the healthy development of the geothermal industry, and the reform and innovation of geothermal mining rights management play an important supporting role in achieving the “dual carbon” goals.