China has made a significant breakthrough in copper exploration on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau over the past four years, with the discovery of more than 20 million metric tons of copper ore deposits.

The China Geological Survey, an institution of the Ministry of Natural Resources, said on Monday that the fresh discovery will greatly enhance the security of the nation's copper resources.

The total copper ore deposit in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, which has four mines each with over 10 million tons of copper reserves, accounts for more than two-thirds of the national total, significantly altering the landscape of copper exploration in China.

The total resource potential of the four mines is estimated to reach 150 million tons, making the plateau a world-class copper resource base, according to the China Geological Survey.

China has stepped up copper exploration nationwide over the past four years, identifying more than 30 million tons of new copper ore deposits in places from the Xizang autonomous region to Heilongjiang, Hubei and Jiangxi provinces.

Tang Juxing, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau's copper resources could ensure the security of China's industrial and supply chains.

"Copper plays a vital role in the development and utilization of green energy such as wind and solar power," Tang said.

The mineral also has vast application prospects in emerging fields such as electric vehicles and photovoltaics. For example, the amount of copper used in an EV is four times that of a gasoline-powered vehicle. This makes the new energy sector a new growth point for copper consumption in the country, according to the China Geological Survey.

China's copper consumption has surged in recent years, transforming it from a net exporter of copper to the world's largest consumer and net importer of copper. The nation's annual copper consumption accounted for more than half of the global total in the past 10 years, data from the World Bureau of Metal Statistics and other institutions showed.

Data also showed that global copper concentrate production has seen a slight decline, while the supply and demand of refined copper have tightened as prices keep fluctuating and rising.

"The recent discovery will help improve the supply of copper in China, greatly securing the domestic industrial chain," Tang said.

Dorje, another academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, emphasized that environmental protection in Xizang is of paramount importance. "Mining activities must aim for near-zero emissions and minimal ecological damage. After mining activities are over, the scientific restoration, reclamation and re-greening of relevant areas must be undertaken," Dorje said.

In the context of limited growth potential in the agricultural and pastoral industries, the locals may choose to seek employment in mining — a choice that not only allows them to enhance their labor skills, but also significantly improves their living standards and contributes to the region's economic and social development, Dorje added.

Xinhua contributed to this story.

[email protected]