Minerals meltdown

China is taking advantage of the global economic crisis to restructure its mining industry. A 4 trillion renminbi (US$586 billion) stimulus plan, announced late last year, encompasses sector-specific reform measures put forward by the National Development and Reform Commission, the state macroeconomic planning agency. Since May, the Ministries of Finance and of Industry and Information Technology have implemented more detailed regulatory measures to consolidate large and mid-tier players, and to squeeze out smaller firms.