Shanxi based Taiyuan Iron and Steel Group has stepped into the exploration of underground operation of its Ekou Iron Ore Mine, which hint that the 190 million tonnes of underground reserves will be prospected. In September 2011, Northern Engineering & Technology Corporation won the bidding. The annual capacity was designed to get to 7.5 million tonnes. It is reported that the Ekou iron ore deposit can provide Taiyuan Steel with stable supplied of iron ore, pellet and iron concentrates till 2046.
Taiyuan Steel also speed the construction of Lvliang iron ore deposit, which was started from July 22, 2008. The designed annual volume of mining 85.8 million tonnes, 7.418 million tonnes of iron concentrates will be produced a year. The mine can be explored for 40 years including 34 years of stable production operation. At the end of 12th Five-Year, Taiyuan Steel planned to realize 70% self-sufficiency of iron ore, and the rate of nickel and chrome to 50%, which will help Taiyuan Steel become the best steel enterprise in China with secured steelmaking ingredients supply