There must be some potassium mineral resources in China—An interview with Wang Lili, a member of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference and a member of the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences

At the Fourth Session of the Tenth National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, a reporter met Wang Yuli, a member of the National Committee, researcher at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and former Secretary of the Geological Society of China. When asked about the status of China’s potassium mineral resources, Wang shared her long-term efforts in exploring for potash deposits. Since the founding of New China, finding industrial-grade potash deposits has been a key goal. Although a large deposit was discovered in Qaidam in the 1950s, progress stalled for many years. Determined to change this, Wang and her team embarked on a mission to find a significant potash resource. Over the course of a decade, Wang’s group made a groundbreaking discovery: the world’s largest sulfate-type brine potassium deposit in Lop Nur, Xinjiang. The project she led, “Development and Utilization of Potash Resources in the Lop Nur Region,” was awarded the National Science and Technology Progress Award in 2004. This achievement marked a major milestone in China’s quest for self-sufficiency in potash. When asked whether potash deposits are rare and hard to find, Wang confirmed that potassium is one of China’s seven critical mineral shortages, with an import dependency of over 85%. However, she remained determined. Starting from the mid-1980s, her team studied the geological similarities between the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai and the Tarim Basin in Xinjiang. They believed that if Qaidam had rich potash resources, so should the larger Tarim Basin. Despite the harsh conditions in Lop Nur, they persisted in their search. Wang also emphasized the importance of theoretical guidance in exploration. She explained that without proper theory, exploration efforts can be inefficient. Through years of research, her team developed the concept that deep basins play a crucial role in potash formation. This led to the identification of the northern part of Lop Nur as a promising area. Since 1995, Wang’s team has conducted eight expeditions to Lop Nur, overcoming numerous challenges. Their efforts paid off with the discovery of a massive potash deposit in the dry salt lake area. The deposit has proven reserves of 250 million tons, surpassing the Dahu Lake deposit in the U.S. and becoming the world’s largest sulfate-type brine potassium deposit. It is valued at over 500 billion yuan and has been recognized as a potential economic asset by the Ministry of Land and Resources. In addition to the scientific breakthroughs, Wang noted that development projects have already begun. A potassium fertilizer plant with an annual output of 40,000 tons was established in 2000, and a larger facility with a capacity of 1.2 million tons was planned with an investment of 8 billion RMB. Eventually, the company aims to produce 3 million tons of potassium sulfate annually, creating a major enterprise worth 5 billion yuan per year. Wang expressed confidence that China possesses abundant potassium resources. She stressed that innovation and advanced methods are key to unlocking these resources. Her work not only contributes to national security but also supports sustainable development in the western regions of China.

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