From Joint Research Project (JRP) to Joint Research Center (JRC): A 10-Years Cooperation in Efficient Utilization of Mineral Resources

Abstract

The global mineral resource development field is facing with common problems such as increasing mining depth, declining resource quality, tightening environmental constraints, and increasing security challenges. The development and utilization technology of mineral resources is in urgent need of innovation. As leading mining countries, starting from the joint research project (JRP) to the establishment of the China–South Africa Joint Research Center for Exploitation and Utilization of Mineral Resources (JRC), China and South Africa have cooperated in depth for over 10 years and made fruitful achievements. The fields of cooperation involve mining, mineral processing, automatic control of mineral processing, comprehensive utilization of tailings, waste catalyst recovery and lithium-ion battery materials. With support of Chinese and South African governments, the two sides jointly held over 10 academic seminars, exchanged more than 20 visiting scientists, introduced 7 South African experts to work in China, and were authorized dozens of patents.