Although China was once the largest producer of tungsten, these days some of its other minerals, due to intensive exploration has been found to become extremely beneficial to the country's economy. Some such minerals are iron ore, copper , coal, zinc, mercury, tin, antimony and molybdenum. While China has grown to become a world leader in the export of rare earths, nowadays the government is also trying to revive the production of other minerals. With an aim to fully utilize China's mineral resources mining was conducted in its various provinces and the search yielded the most fruitful results in Jiangxi province.
The Ministry of Land Resources discovered huge deposits of copper in the eastern part of Tianshen estimated to be at 10 million tons. The Xitieshan Mining Bureau, which had the largest largest zinc mining capacity was given permission to explore and develop the Saishitang Copper Mine, the largest in Xining, more mines in Yulong and Xizang was later developed. Later on a public company by the name of Jiangxi Copper Co. Ltd. Came into the scenario with a pledge to develop copper as profitable business. They expanded one mine, then bought the next big mine and later gained approval for exploring the third and today has become China's largest producer of copper.
Such attempts made by both the government and the Chinese companies especially Jiangxi Copper Co. Ltd. Has established China in a position where it shares more than 10% of the world's total production and exportation of copper.
The Jiangxi Copper Co. Limited has today evolved as the largest copper producer of the country. With an annual production of 340,000 tons of copper, which is chiefly yielded by the mines in Dexing and Yongping and Wushan, the company also has several branches in some other countries too. With a refinery and smelting, the company also produces copper rods and wires. The company is most famous for its copper products and it is also government owned. Besides copper the company is also into gold and silver production. This company was established in 1997 by parent company Jiangxi Copper Corporation which again is a government owned company. Today the parent company holds 48% stakes in Jiangxi Copper Co. Ltd. Recently the company has sought to begin a joint venture with another crucial producer of copper in China, the private owned
Jiangxi Copper Group.
