OREANDA-NEWS. January 16, 2013. The project of changing from open-pit to underground mining of E’kou Iron Mine, a key project of the resource development strategy in TISCO, was started, reported the press-centre of TISCO.  
   
The project of changing from open-pit to underground mining of E’kou Iron Mine is a key project in TISCO. It is the sustainable development project for E’kou Iron Mine. The total capital construction works volume of the project is 1.993 million m3. The project consists of three mining areas; each mining area is divided into two phases. Its total construction period is scheduled to last about 10 years. The total project investment is 1.87 billion yuan. After the completion of the project, the three mining areas will be changed from open-pit mining to underground mining one after another. 260 million ton of underground ore reserve of E’kou Iron Mine will prolong its service life to 2046, which can steadily provide iron concentrates and pellets to TISCO for at least 30 years.
   
E’kou Iron Mine is an old mine. Its construction started in 1958; it went into operation in 1977. The annual production capacity is: 8 million ton crude ore, 2.2 million ton concentrates and 2.2 million ton pellets. 130 million tons of iron ore was extracted in the past 35-years continuous mining. Now the open-pit mining has entered into later phase. The existing ore reserve for open-pit mining is about 50 million tons. The stable production period of the open-pit mining is less than 5 years. The only way to ensure the long term and reliable production is to change the open-pit mining into underground mining, that is, to efficiently use the 260 million ton underground ore reserve.
   
TISCO’s Mining Company started the feasibility study of the underground mining project since 2009. Through study, site investigation and scientific verification, the feasibility study, interim solution, preliminary design and geological survey were finished. The construction contracts were awarded to China Huaye Group Co. Ltd. and China Coal No. 3 Construction (Group) Corp. Ltd. which are the top construction companies with strength in China. At the launch ceremony, the persons in charge of the two companies commit to overcome all difficulties, ensure safety, quality and construction period and build the project into a quality one by experienced construction teams and advanced construction equipment according the time schedule.
   
According to project schedule, the first phase of the project will be finished at June 2016. After the completion of the first phase, the annual underground mining capacity will be 2 million tons of crude ore. After the completion of the project, the annual underground mining capacity of E’kou Iron Mine will be 7.5 million tons of crude ore. The implementation of the project will accelerate the sustainable development of the green mine.