Rise in adversity! In the coming years, gravel and sand mines will need to make some changes.

To implement the decisions and deployments of the Party Central Committee and the State Council and to strengthen guidance on promoting equipment upgrades and technological transformation in the industrial sector, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has, in accordance with the "Action Plan for Promoting Large-Scale Equipment Upgrades and Trade-In of Consumer Goods" and the "Implementation Plan for Promoting Equipment Upgrades in the Industrial Sector," organized the preparation of the "Guidelines for Equipment Upgrades and Technological Transformation in Key Industrial Sectors" (hereinafter referred to as the "Guidelines"), which were released on its official website on September 20.

Against the backdrop of the nationwide sand-and-gravel industry facing widespread challenges and a prolonged downturn, this difficult situation is quietly giving rise to unique opportunities for certain sand-and-gravel mines to undergo transformation and upgrading, thus achieving leapfrog development. Back in earlier years, Hu Youyi, President of the China Sand and Gravel Association, emphasized that the future business model for sand-and-gravel mines would be “a one-yuan business.” This statement not only profoundly reflects the current market environment’s emphasis on cost control and refined management but also precisely defines the strategic direction for the future development of sand-and-gravel mining enterprises. The comprehensive approach he proposed—encompassing scientific site selection, continuous optimization of process technologies, stringent quality control, and enhanced logistics and transportation efficiency—provides concrete pathways for sand-and-gravel mining companies to break through existing barriers and achieve self-transcendence. These measures aim to enable enterprises to stand out in the fiercely competitive market and achieve sustainable development through refined management, technological innovation, and efficiency improvements.

Against this backdrop, the “Guidelines” compiled by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology are particularly important and timely. The release of these Guidelines not only represents a proactive response to the nation’s industrial policy orientation but also serves as a powerful impetus for the transformation and upgrading of traditional industries such as sand and gravel, driving their high-quality development. By clearly defining the directions and priorities for equipment renewal and technological upgrades, the Guidelines provide sand and gravel mining enterprises with scientific and systematic guidance, helping them precisely align with market demands, accelerate the phasing out of outdated production capacity, introduce advanced technologies and equipment, and enhance their overall competitiveness.

The “Guidelines” mention that China will carry out large-scale equipment upgrades in 27 key industrial sectors—including petrochemicals, iron and steel, building materials, construction machinery, basic components and foundational manufacturing processes, and industrial robots—as well as in four major priority areas: industrial software, industrial network equipment, green and energy-saving equipment, and safety and emergency response equipment. Specific upgrade targets have been set for each of these areas by 2027. Among them, the building materials industry is targeted for completion by 2027.

The Guidelines point out that equipment in the non-metallic mineral industry is a key focus for upgrading. Priority should be given to promoting the renovation and upgrading of equipment used in mining, ore dressing, crushing and grinding, material handling, and inspection. The use of high-efficiency, energy-saving mining and ore-dressing equipment, integrated dry-process crushing and purification systems, large-scale superconducting magnetic separation and beneficiation technologies, ultrafine modification technologies, and mineral calcination and purification equipment is encouraged. We should also advance the scaled-up application of intelligent mining and ore-dressing equipment, smart conveyor belt systems, and end-to-end intelligent management systems. Furthermore, we need to accelerate the replacement and upgrading of industrial operating systems—including programmable logic controllers (PLCs), distributed control systems (DCS), supervisory control and data acquisition systems (SCADA), and embedded software—as well as industrial software covering R&D design, production manufacturing, business management, and operation & maintenance services within production lines and supporting equipment.

The “Green and Energy-Saving Equipment” section of the Guidelines also emphasizes that, with a focus on improving the efficiency of resource and energy utilization, priority should be given to upgrading and retrofitting equipment for the comprehensive utilization of industrial solid waste and renewable resources. By 2027, through the transformation and upgrading of technological processes and equipment for the comprehensive utilization of industrial solid waste and renewable resources, we will boost the overall utilization rate of bulk industrial solid waste to over 57% and increase the annual capacity for the comprehensive utilization of bulk industrial solid waste and renewable resources by approximately 20 million tons. It is essential to implement equipment that reduces industrial solid waste at the source.

The implementation of the Guidelines will help sand and gravel mining enterprises optimize their production processes and enhance productivity; reduce energy consumption and emissions, thereby achieving green production; improve product quality to meet diversified market demands; and strengthen the logistics system to lower transportation costs. These changes will directly enable sand and gravel mining enterprises to identify and seize development opportunities during periods of downturn, thus facilitating their transformation, upgrading, and high-quality development.

During the downturn in the national sand and gravel industry, challenges and opportunities coexist. The release of the “Guidelines” provides sand and gravel mining enterprises with valuable policy support and a practical roadmap for action. By actively responding to policy directives, strengthening internal management, and promoting technological innovation and upgrading, sand and gravel mining enterprises are fully capable of rising above adversity and opening up even broader prospects for development.