Shandong Gold: Technological Innovation Drives Deep Mining Breakthroughs, Digital-Intelligent Transformation Sets New Industry Benchmark. The 2026 Sustainable Global Leaders Conference was held in Shanghai from October 20 to 22. At an industry forum themed "New Economic Landscape and New Chapter in Consumption," co-hosted by the World Gold Council and Sina Finance, Liu Qin, Member of the Party Committee and Vice General Manager of Shandong Gold Group, attended and delivered a speech.
Innovation System: Building the "123+N" Science and Innovation Platform
Liu Qin introduced that Shandong Gold adheres to an innovation-driven strategy and has established a well-structured, fully functional innovation platform system: "1" overarching entity: a nationally recognized enterprise technology center; "2" supporting wings: an academician workstation and a postdoctoral research workstation; "3" carriers: specialized laboratories including one for deep well mining; and "N" foundations: 18 provincial-level or higher science and innovation platforms. This "123+N" innovation platform system provides solid support for the group's technological breakthroughs.
Since the 14th Five-Year Plan period, Shandong Gold has undertaken or participated in 21 national-level major science and technology projects, an increase of 73% year-on-year; been granted 1,544 patents, with the total number of invention patents reaching 3.5 times that of the same period during the 13th Five-Year Plan; and accumulated 234 science and technology awards at the provincial and ministerial level or above.
Technological Breakthroughs: Leading the Industry into the Deep Earth Era
In response to common industry challenges such as deep resource extraction, utilization of low-grade ore, and large-scale tailings consumption, Shandong Gold has achieved a series of landmark results: Xiling Gold Mine: Theoretical innovation guiding a world-class discovery. The group pioneered the Jiaodong-type gold deposit metallogenic theory, under whose guidance the world-class Xiling Gold Mine was discovered, providing important theoretical support for deep prospecting in China. Deep drilling: Setting a new domestic record with 4,006.17 meters, the deepest core drilling record in China, marking a new level in the country's deep exploration technological capabilities. Ultra-deep vertical shafts: Overcoming worldwide challenges by successfully tackling a series of world-class technical difficulties in ultra-deep vertical shafts, leading China's metal mines into a new era of 2,000-meter mining and opening new paths for the development and utilization of deep resources. Backfill technology: Achieving large-scale tailings consumption through independently developed full-tailings short-process intelligent high-concentration backfill technology, with eight demonstration backfill projects built including Yulong Mining and Songxian Shanjin, realizing large-scale resource utilization of tailings and filling a gap in industry technology.
Digital-Intelligent Transformation: Pioneering a New Model for Non-Coal Mine Construction
Facing the global trend of digital-intelligent development in mining, Shandong Gold proactively seeks change and plans ahead, promoting deep integration of next-generation information technology with mine production and operations. Investment scale: During the 14th Five-Year Plan period, the group cumulatively invested over 1.9 billion yuan in intelligent construction. Core indicators: trackless mining mechanization rate above 65%; loading and hauling mechanization rate at 100%; automation rate of main fixed facilities above 95%; and roof full-support coverage rate for excavation engineering at 100% (the first among non-coal mines nationwide). Industry significance: Shandong Gold is the first among non-coal mining enterprises nationwide to achieve 100% full coverage of roof support in excavation engineering, forming a batch of replicable and promotable typical application scenarios, pioneering a new operational model for intelligent non-coal mine construction, and providing practical reference for the industry's digital development.
Green Technology: Supporting Low-Carbon Transformation Across the Entire Industrial Chain
Technological innovation also serves green development goals. Shandong Gold closely combines technological breakthroughs with the "dual carbon" strategy: reducing unit energy consumption through production process upgrades; improving energy efficiency through equipment and facility renewal and transformation; and achieving circular economy development through waste rock and tailings reduction and resource utilization technologies. Currently, Shandong Gold has taken the lead in building a green mining group integrating green mines, green factories, and green exploration, with all its operating mines included in national or provincial green mine lists.
Conclusion
Liu Qin stated that every breakthrough in development philosophy and key technologies is reshaping the mining development model. Shandong Gold will continue to be driven by innovation, joining hands with global partners to jointly advance the transformation and upgrading of the gold industry toward high-end, intelligent, and green development.
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