Inland Enterprises Tap Resources in TibetOnce-quiet northern Tibet has become a scene of bustle and excitement since a number of inland enterprise marched into the region in response to the government call for speeding up the development of western China.Northern Tibet has more than 200 mining areas with 28 kinds of mineral ores, and is rich in oil and hot springs. However, these natural resources had been kept intact as the region has a harsh climate and lacks oxygen owing to an elevation of 4,500 meters. In the wake of China's "go west" strategy, the China National Star Petroleum Corporation (CNSPC) and the China National Oil and Gas Exploration and Development Corporation came to northern Tibet for oil prospecting. The CNSPC sank the first oil well last year in the Lunpola Basin, which has a proven oil reserve of three million tons. Central China's Henan Province sent three study teams to northern Tibet this year. They have opened two alluvial gold mines in Nagqu and built a gem-processing plant in Lhasa. "We welcome inland and foreign investors to exploit the gold, oil and antimony resources on the plateau of northern Tibet," said Soinam Dorje, an official of Nagqu Prefecture. |
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