The situation, problems and strategies for the construction of stockpiling areas of mineral resources

Stockpiling areas of mineral resources, as a crucial link in the national strategic stockpiling of mineral resources security, play an indispensable and fundamental role in ensuring the stability and sustainable development of the national economy. The United States has ensured the supply of raw materials for key industries through its Critical Minerals Stockpiling Program. Japan has improved its resource security through a diversified stockpiling system, while Europe has promoted the sharing and optimal allocation of resources by establishing a cooperation mechanism. However, the international community still does not attach enough importance to stockpiling areas of mineral resources. Although China has taken some actions in the strategic stockpiling of mineral resources, there is still a certain gap between the current situation of the construction of stockpiling areas of mineral resources and the requirements for ensuring national resource security. The rapid changes in the resource market pose a threat to stockpiling security. By briefly sorting out the history and current situation of domestic and international mineral resources stockpiling and discussing the practices and effects of various countries, it is believed that the lack of clarity in domestic laws, regulations and policies as well as the imperfection of the stockpiling mechanism and system have become the restrictive factors for the construction of China’s stockpiling areas of mineral resources. To enhance the security and efficiency of the construction of domestic stockpiling areas of mineral resources, it is necessary to improve the legal and regulatory system to clarify stockpiling goals and responsibilities, optimize the stockpiling mechanism to improve the flexibility and response speed of resource allocation, strengthen financial support to ensure the implementation of stockpiling plans, and optimize the market mechanism and conduct international cooperation to draw on international experience and improve the overall level of China’s mineral resources stockpiling.