A statement jointly released by three ministries said that China encourages firms to import molybdenum and antimony ores and natural uranium.

The 2011 list for imports issued by the National Development and Reform Commission, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Commerce is the updated version for the list published in 2009.

Imports under the list are subject to interest subsidies, according to the statement, which did not provide details. China, the world's top producer of molybdenum and antimony, is struggling with low grade ores.

To preserve local ores, Beijing has set yearly quotas for mining production of the two metals. China, the world's top consumer of most base metals, continues to encourage imports of copper concentrate, lead concentrate, zinc concentrate and cobalt concentrate.

It wants firms to import ores and concentrates of nickel, chromium, titanium, niobium and tantalum. The import of ferronickel, which typically contains 25% or more of nickel content in the international market, is also on the list.

But Beijing is no longer encouraging firms to import uranium ores but wants natural uranium metal imports, the essential material for the country's nuclear power projects.

(Sourced from www.ndrc.gov.cn)