# China mineral waste processing technology advancements > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/china-mineral-waste-processing-technology-advancements > Updated: 2026-09-18T01:43:29.000Z. Sources: 3. Developments: 2. The Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has introduced new industrial-scale technologies designed to extract valuable materials from mineral waste. In September 2026, the Institute of Process Engineering (IPE) under CAS launched a project in Anshan, Liaoning Province, to convert iron ore tailings into high-quality concentrate. Using a fluidized bed magnetic roasting method, the facility can process 5.56 million tons of low-grade material annually, potentially reducing China’s dependence on imported iron ore. Shortly after, a new production line was launched in Jiangxi Province to recover rubidium and cesium from lithium production waste. Developed by IPE in collaboration with Ganfeng Lithium, this system utilizes extraction tower technology to achieve high recovery rates for these critical metals. The process is reported to be significantly more efficient than traditional methods, offering increased productivity while reducing chemical usage and land requirements. ## Timeline ### 2026-09-18: China launches rare metal recovery line from lithium waste China has deployed a new 500-ton annual capacity production line to recover rare rubidium and cesium metals from lithium waste, potentially transforming the global high-tech supply chain. 3 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-launches-rare-metal-recovery-line-from-lithium-waste ### 2026-09-08: China launches world-first technology to process iron ore tailings China has launched a world-first industrial technology in Anshan to convert low-grade iron ore tailings into high-quality concentrate, aiming to reduce reliance on foreign iron ore imports. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/china-launches-world-first-technology-to-process-iron-ore-tailings --- Cite as: China mineral waste processing technology advancements. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/china-mineral-waste-processing-technology-advancements