Recently large manufacturers, relevant ministries and bureaus, and more than ten academicians gathered in Jinchuan China s largest nickel and cobalt production base to discuss the comprehensive development and utilization of our nickel and cobalt resources. Technical weakness has broadened the gap between China and the world. The first gap lies in resource shortage. In the whole world, our reserves of nickel and cobalt are eighth. Most of our nickel mines are in sulfide minerals.
China lacks cobalt resources, without independent deposits of cobalt minerals.
Some reports say that Chinese total reserves of cobalt are more than 1.5 million tons, but most of which reside in low-grade ore and associated minerals, difficult to develop. The countries with the richest reserves of nickel and cobalt are Zaire and Zambia. Since China has made no progress in prospecting nickel and cobalt deposits, present exploration focuses on high-grade ores. Resources have already become an obstacle in developing China s nickel and cobalt industry. By the middle of the 21st century, China will run out of its nickel and cobalt resources.