China has made key progress in protecting mining resources in recent years.

Some 5.01 billion tons of petroleum reserves, 2.6 trillion cubic meters of natural gas and 279.8 billion tons of coal were discovered between 2008 and 2011 in a large-scale geological survey, said Xu Shaoshi, Minister of Land and Resources, on December 25, 2012.

According to Xu, the country has formed a geological exploration system that values both public and commercial interests and encourages investment from multiple sources.

Between 2008 and 2011, some 370.8 billion yuan ($59.47 billion) was spent on mining exploration, up 110 percent year on year. Among the total, central and local government funds took up only 15.3 percent, while the rest came from non-state investors, Xu said.

Meanwhile, a security deposit system to protect the environment in mining regions has been implemented in 30 provinces so far, Xu said.

Under the system, mine owners have to pay a security fee before they begin mining. The fee will be returned to the owners if they successfully restore natural environment damaged by mining activities.

Xu said that efforts have also been made to solve persistent environmental problems, clean up tailing mines and crack down on illegal mining.