Chromite find, shale gas expansion to boost resources

China has announced major breakthroughs in two strategic resources, reporting the discovery of a significant chromite deposit in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region and a successful expansion of shale gas production in Hubei province.

These twin achievements came as Beijing intensifies efforts to reduce its heavy reliance on foreign imports for critical minerals and energy, a goal prioritized in the country's 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-25).

In the Tacheng prefecture of Xinjiang, geologists have identified a massive chromite deposit group containing 20 separate ore bodies. The find is being hailed as the most significant mineral discovery in the region in the last 40 years.

Chromite is a critically scarce strategic mineral for China, serving as an essential component for producing high-grade steel used in aerospace, shipbuilding, and automotive manufacturing, where it provides vital resistance to heat and corrosion.

Chromite prospecting is exceptionally difficult due to complex geological conditions, according to Zhang Jiangwei, project leader at the China Geological Survey's Xi'an center. Zhang noted that traditional surface exploration is no longer sufficient, requiring the team to hunt for "deep blind" ore bodies that are hidden far underground. To achieve this, the team utilized large-scale, high-precision gravity and magnetic surveys to detect low-magnetic and high-density anomalies, which are telltale signs of chromite-bearing rock. This technical shift resulted in a drilling efficiency ratio eight times the national average.

Notably, 70 percent of the find was located in carbonated ultramafic rocks, a host rock different from traditional sources, which experts say opens up new possibilities for future prospecting.

Simultaneously, China's energy sector reported progress in the complex formation areas of western Hubei province. Two shale gas wells have reached industrial production standards, hitting daily volumes of 50,600 and 10,700 cubic meters. The success in Hubei is a strategic win, as it proves that shale gas — previously concentrated in the Sichuan Basin — can be extracted from more geologically challenging regions across the country.

China faces significant energy security challenges, with more than 70 percent of its oil and gas reliant on imports, according to Zhang Baomin, a senior engineer at the China Geological Survey's Wuhan center.

He emphasized that shale gas is a clean and efficient bridge as China attempts to shift its energy mix away from coal.

The Hubei wells utilized advanced horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing to release gas trapped in nanoscale pores 2,000 meters below the surface. A new intelligent monitoring system allowed engineers to optimize fluid recovery and reduce the high costs typically associated with such deep-earth extraction.

The China Geological Survey recently signaled that these efforts will only accelerate as the country prepares for its 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30). The government is calling for strengthened foundational surveys to locate hidden resources and technological innovation in deep-earth exploration equipment.

By securing domestic supplies of industrial staples like chromite and transition fuels like shale gas, Beijing aims to shield its high-end manufacturing and energy sectors from volatile global markets and enhance national security before the end of the decade.