Hong Kong-headquartered metal and mining company Jinchuan Group International Resources has appointed Chen Dexin CEO of the company. Dexin is the former acting CEO of Johannesburg-based mining company Metorex, which owns the Chibuluma copper mine, in Zambia.

In a statement in August, Jinchuan International describes Dexin as a seasoned executive, appointed to his new role because of his extensive mining industry experience, who aims to build Jinchuan International into a world-class mining company.

Dexin joined the Chinese State-owned Jinchuan, which is engaged in mining,the concentration of ore, metallurgy, chemical engineering and deep processing, following his graduation and has long been responsible for frontline mining technology and management.

He was promoted to GM of the No 2 Jinchuan underground mine, in China, and, in 2010, to Jinchuan Group VP in charge of mine resources.

Besides having been acting CEO, Dexin was also chairperson of the board of Metorex, a subsidiary of Jinchuan International, and deputy chairperson and nonexecutive director of South African platinum mining company Wesizwe Platinum.

Dexin has practical experience both in Asia and Africa. When he was the GM of the No 2 Jinchuan mine, he increased the mine’s annual capacity from 4-million tons to 4.4-million tons, states Jinchuan International, which adds that, during his service at Metorex and Wesizwe, in South Africa, he led multiple large-scale projects, such as the Ruashi copper and cobalt mine, and the Kinsenda copper mine, both in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Dexin has an outstanding record with regard to enhancing management and technical know-how. “When faced with a sluggish copper price, Dexin committed to reducing costs at Metorex through sophisticated management, technical know-how and creative reform, reducing operating expenses and capital expenditure by $58-million,” explains Jinchuan International.

Jinchuan Group chairperson Yang Zhiqiang states that the company is delighted to have Dexin as the CEO of its overseas-listed mining flagship. “He has convincing managerial and operational experience and achievements in both Jinchuan Group and the industry.”

When it comes to the future plans of Jinchuan International, Dexin says the company’s principal goal is to develop in four major areas based on the long-term experience and leading role of Jinchuan Group:

irst, to build Metorex into a profitable mining company; second, to enhance, consolidate and strengthen the international trading business; third, to actively seek opportunities for further expansion; and fourth, to leverage on the advantages of Hong Kong, an international financial centre, to develop investment and financing business. With development in these four major areas, Jinchuan International plans to start a service-providing business.

“Owing to Jinchuan Group’s experience and techniques in mining, the concentration of ore, metallurgy of nonferrous metal and equipment manufacturing,engineering construction and operation management, Jinchuan International is capable of vigorously developing these businesses and, ultimately, building a high-quality mining company that focuses on copper and cobalt mines, with systematic integration from upstream to downstream and development in mining, the concentration of ore, metallurgy and related businesses, to reward our shareholders, our community and our country,” Dexin concludes.