In order to standardize the access qualifications, maintain order in the geological exploration market as well as facilitating the development of geological exploration, China has  begun  to  implement  the  geological  exploration qualification validation system and set up a geological exploration company qualification system in June 2003.

Registration according to China's laws and obtaining of the geological exploration qualification certificate will be required for conducting geological exploration work within Chinese territory, including seas areas governed by China. Such qualification certificates are not restricted by administrative jurisdiction limits and are in fact valid right across China.

Applicants for this geological exploration qualification should be enterprise or institutions directly involved in geological exploration that are in compliance with the qualifications required for geological exploration in addition to its legal person entity qualifications.  The MLR and the state land and resource  administrative  authorities  of  the  people's government  at  provincial,  autonomous  region  and municipality levels shall be the registration authorities for geological exploration qualifications.

Specified Range of Administrative Duties

Scope of MLR Duties:

i)  Registration of geological exploration qualifications for marine geological investigation, mineral exploration and aero-geophysical prospecting of petroleum and natural gas as well as aero-remote sensing geological exploration;

ii) The collection, publication and provision of enquiry services related to the national geographical exploration qualification system and its registration information;

iii) Supervision and management of the registration of geological exploration qualifications by the state land and resources administrations of the people's government at provincial, autonomous region and municipality levels as well as the national level.

Scope of State Land and Resources administrations at provincial, autonomous region and municipality level duties

i)  Registration of geological exploration qualifications other than  that for  marine  geological  investigation,  mineral exploration and aero-geophysical prospecting of petroleum and natural gas as well as aero-remote sensing geological exploration;

ii) The collection, publication and provision of enquiry services related to the national geographical exploration qualification system  and  its  registration  information,  within  the administrative jurisdiction;

iii) Supervision and management over the registration of geological exploration qualifications within the administrative jurisdiction.

Required Documents for Qualification Application

The applicant should submit the following documents to the registration authority when applying for the geological exploration qualification:

1 ) Application letter for registration of the geological exploration qualification;

2) Legal person entity certification document or photocopy of such document;

3) Letter of appointment for the legal representatives and technical chiefs or photocopies of such documents;

4) Asset certification document or photocopy of such document;

5) List of the technical staff as well as photocopy of the technical  rank  qualification  certificates  of  senior  and mid-level technical staff;

6) List of main exploration apparatus and equipment;

7) Other documents required as defined by the registration authority.