China eyes gold production surge amid de-dollarisation drive, aiming to hedge global risks

China is charting a course for a major increase in domestic Gold output over the next five years, while also advancing a new round of mineral-exploration breakthroughs, to bolster self-sufficiency amid a global shift away from the US dollar and heightened geopolitical tensions that underscore Gold’s role as a financial haven.The proposal, outlined by the China Gold Association, aims to upgrade mining and smelting technologies during the country’s 15th five-year plan period (2026-2030) while expanding investment in high-end Gold materials to meet surging domestic demand.The group convened a meeting on Tuesday, bringing together insiders and experts to forge development plans for the Gold industry. An online statement by the association on Wednesday offered insight into what was discussed.It cited unidentified experts at the meeting as saying that progress should focus on breaking technological bottlenecks, including accelerating the development of deep-shaft mining techniques beyond 2,000 metres (6,562 feet) and advanced extraction equipment.Some industry representatives pledged to step up research into high-value Gold materials to lift the metal’s value across manufacturing and technology sectors. These materials often include ultra-small “nanogold” products used in electronics, biomedicine and other hi-tech applications.“Resource security is the foundation of the Gold industry’s stable development,” the non-profit group’s statement quoted insiders as saying. There were also vows to advance a new round of Gold exploration while improving Gold recovery rates for low-grade, hard-to-extract and complex ores.The association added that broader adoption of what is known as cyanide-tailings technology – referring to methods of treating waste by-products of Gold mining that contain cyanide, often to detoxify them and recover remaining valuable resources – would further support sustainable production.