Abstract: The newly revised “Mineral Resources Law of the People’s Republic of China” in 2024 (hereinafter referred to as the “New Mineral Resources Law”) has made systematic and reconstructive modifications to the approach of mineral resources management, which has established a whole-chain management system of mineral resources including mining rights, mineral resource exploration and exploitation,ecological restoration of mining areas, mineral resource reserves and emergency, and supervision and administration. Based on a systematic review of the legal provisions related to oil and gas in the New Mineral Resources Law, the content of the provisions has been interpreted from five aspects, i.e., the special protection system for strategic mineral resources, the management model of mining rights transfer registration and administrative licensing, key systems for mining rights management, policy support for exploration and exploitation, and the fulfillment of mining rights holders’ obligations. Meanwhile, the impact of these systems mentioned above on oil and gas mining rights holders has been analyzed. After investigation and data analysis, it is proposed that under the New Mineral Resources Law, oil and gas mining rights holders should implement the special protection system for strategic mineral resources, timely transform the management ideas of oil and gas mining rights transfer, registration, and licensing, properly grasp the key systems of oil and gas management, utilize the supporting policies for oil and gas exploration and exploitation, fulfill the obligations of oil and gas mining rights holders, and promptly offer countermeasures and suggestions for the promulgation of the mineral resources law and regulations.

Key words: Mineral Resources Law; mining rights; exploration license; exploitation license; rights and interests of mining rights holders