Timeline

1958: A nickel mine, later named Jinchuan Nickel Mine, is found in Northwest China’s Gansu province in July.

1959: Northwest China Metallurgical Construction Company is founded in June; Yongchang Nickel Mine is established in October; the first project of Jinchuan Nickel Mine starts construction.

1964: The first smelting production line is put into operation in September. In the same year, it produces 2,041 metric tons of high-grade nickel matte and 22.43 tons of electrolytic nickel.

1968: Eight varieties of precious metals, namely gold, silver, platinum, palladium, osmium, iridium, ruthenium and rhodium, are extracted from Jinchuan Nickel Mine in August. It lays a foundation for Jinchuan to become one of China’s nickel and cobalt production bases and a hub for the extraction of platinum group metals.

1978: Jinchuan is listed as one of three major bases for comprehensive utilization of mineral resources in China.

1989: A Jinchuan-led resource development and comprehensive utilization project receives the Special Prize of the State Scientific and Technological Progress Award.

1993: A nickel flash smelting furnace, the first of its kind in Asia and the fifth in the world, is put into use. It indicates that China is a world leader in nickel smelting techniques and marks another milestone in the history of Jinchuan and that of China’s nickel industry.

2001: Jinchuan Group is founded and a modern corporate system is basically set up.

2008: Jinchuan Group acquires Recursos Tyler, a company located in Canada, and obtains 100 percent of the equity of Bahuerachi Copper Mine in Mexico.

2010: Munali Nickel Mine in Zambia, the first overseas nickel project controlled and managed by Jinchuan Group, resumes production. Jinchuan Group goes on to obtain 100 percent of the nickel mine’s equity three years later.

2011: The annual business turnover of Jinchuan Group exceeds 120 billion yuan, making it the first company in Gansu province to earn more than 100 billion yuan in annual revenue.

2013: Jinchuan Group International Resources purchases 100 percent of the equity of South African company Metorex from Jinchuan Group in September.

2016: The WP & RKA laterite nickel mine project undertaken by PT. Wanatiara Persada starts construction on Nov 25, which means Jinchuan Group formally enters the field of laterite.

2017: Jinchuan Group plays an active part in the Belt and Road Initiative. Its overseas projects achieve stable progress.

2018: Jinchuan Group works with Huanghe Hydropower Development and the Bureau of Geological Exploration and Development of Qinghai Province to develop a nickel and cobalt mine in Xiarihamu, Qinghai province. It is the second largest nickel-cobalt sulfide ore source in China.

2019: Jinchuan Group ranks 369th among Fortune Global 500 companies, becoming the first Gansu-based company on the list.

2020: A 5G-assisted track transportation driverless project in Longshou Mine, a 5G-assisted mining truck remote control project in Mining Area II and a 5G-assisted self-operated crushing system in mineral processing plants are put into operation.

2021: Jinchuan Group’s business turnover reaches 262.2 billion yuan and its total profit and taxes surpass 12.7 billion yuan. All its key indicators hit record highs, which gets the company off to a good start in the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-25).