Lepidolite mining license approval timeline

So far, there is only one lepidolite mine applied mining license under "lithium mine", QianKeng lithium mine.
It took around 2 and half years to grant a mining license after submission of the application.

It's noted that currently 8 lepidolite mines are required to submit reserve filling by 30 September 2025.
In QianKeng application, reserve filling was completed in February 2022. Still 2 years and 1 month away from receiving approval of mining license.
If the 8 lepidolite mines are required to re-apply mining license under "lithium mine", it may take up to 2 years time.

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On July 7, the Yichun Natural Resources Bureau issued a notice on compiling reserve verification reports, pointing out that eight lithium resource mining rights involved irregularities in transfers, changes, and renewal registrations. It required submission of reserve verification reports with lithium as the mineral type by September 30.

On August 7, Duan Debing, Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Nonferrous Metals Industry Association, said at a lithium industry branch meeting in Yichun:
“We must fully recognize the harm of involution-style competition and respond to the central government’s call to comprehensively rectify such practices.”

Shortly afterward, news spread in the industry that CATL’s aforementioned lithium mine would soon halt production as its mining license was expiring.

Mo Ke told China News Weekly that these lithium mines originally applied under the name of “ceramic clay” but were in fact mining lepidolite, and now face the issue of changing the registered mineral type.
“Ceramic clay and lithium mines are subject to different tax rates. In the future, production will need to be taxed as lithium mines,” he said.

Fan Runze, senior nickel-cobalt-lithium analyst at Antaike, told China News Weekly that if these mines now need to change their classification to lithium mines, approval from the Ministry of Natural Resources will be required.
“The fastest estimate is that it could take half a year to a year,” he said.
Fan added that the other seven mines face the same issue, though their mining licenses have not yet expired. Local authorities have required them to complete reserve verification reports under the lithium classification by the end of September.
“By then, it’s highly likely these mines will also be suspended, since their previous licensing procedures were irregular,” he said.

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QianKeng Lithium Mine “Exploration-to-Mining” Approval Timeline

	Date	Event Description	Source
1	Dec 2021	Jiangte Electric submitted the “exploration-to-mining” (探转采 application to the Ministry of Natural Resources, including exploration rights separation, extension and retention, and development/utilization plan.	jiemian.com / 21Finance
2	Feb 2022	Company secretary confirmed via investor platform that the “reserves filing” and “development/utilization plan” were completed, and relevant procedures were under approval at the Ministry of Natural Resources.	caifuhao.eastmoney.com
3	Oct 2022	Mineral resource development/utilization plan passed review and entered public announcement stage, indicating substantial progress in approval.	21Finance
4	Apr 9, 2024	Mining license approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources.	jiemian.com
5	May 13, 2024	Jiangte Electric announced receipt of the mining license for QianKeng lithium mine, marking formal completion of the “exploration-to-mining” process.	Xueqiu / jiemian.com / 21Finance
6	Apr 9, 2024 – Apr 9, 2054	Validity period of the mining license	jiemian.com

Key Interpretations (Updated)

1. Application Stage (Dec 2021)
   • Jiangte Electric officially submitted the “exploration-to-mining” application, starting the formal approval process.
2. Approval Progress (Feb 2022 – Oct 2022)
   • Feb 2022: Core documents (reserves filing, development plan) completed, entering formal approval process.
   • Oct 2022: Development/utilization plan passed review and entered public announcement stage, showing clear progress.
3. Mining License Approval (Apr 9, 2024)
   • License formally approved by the Ministry of Natural Resources.
4. Official Announcement (May 13, 2024)
   • Jiangte Electric announced receipt of the license, marking completion of the “exploration-to-mining” process.
5. License Validity
   • Effective from April 9, 2024, for 30 years, until April 9, 2054.

Dec 2021: Submission of "Exploration-to-Mining" Application
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Feb 2022: Completion of core documents (reserves filing & development plan) → Enter approval process
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Oct 2022: Development plan passed review → Public announcement stage
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Apr 9, 2024: Mining license approved by Ministry of Natural Resources
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May 13, 2024: Jiangte Electric announced receipt of mining license → Process completed
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Apr 9, 2024 – Apr 9, 2054: Granted mining license, valid for 30 years



I compiled the above info just for thoughts, always do your own research.
DO NOT rely on my personal posts.
GLTA.