In terms of energy consumption, manufacturing represents the largest sector of the Chinese economy with a proportion of more than 50 percent of final energy use. The steel and non-ferrous metals industry are particularly energy-intensive. In recent years, especially since the national targets for carbon peaking and carbon neutrality were announced in 2020, China is actively taking measures to make production processes more energy-efficient and less carbon-intensive.

The new member of the German Mining Network, IHK Chemnitz, is leading and supporting the establishment of the Chamber of Mines in Mozambique to strengthen the mining sector in the region in perspective. The country has the potential to position itself as an important international supplier of raw materials. However, it is dependent on competent and experienced partners and is therefore also relevant for the German raw material supply.

China is highly dependent on imports of various kinds of raw materials from foreign countries. Domestic recycling and reuse of resources therefore is an essential strategy for China to ensure sufficient supply. The Chinese government has been facilitating circular economy development since more than a decade and recycling of raw materials has been further enhanced and improved in recent years. Non-ferrous metals such as copper, aluminum, lead and zinc play a key role in this development.

The fourth Smart Mining Conference (SMC2021) had returned on the 17 November 2021, hosted by the Institute for Advanced Mining Technologies (AMT) of RWTH Aachen University and VDMA Mining.

The German Mining Network (GMN) held a webinar on September 22 focusing on digitization trends and sustainability in mining. Over 138 participants from Chile, Germany, Brazil, Ghana, Canada, Mongolia, the Netherlands, Peru, South Africa, Turkey and other parts of the world followed the experts‘ presentations and exchanged views on cutting-edge future trends for the mining industry.