Major Chinese steel producer Hebei Iron and Steel Group has stated that its Miaogou iron ore mine located in Qinhuangdao in Hebei Province has switched from open-pit to underground mining.
In 2011, Hebei Steel excavated 5.66 million mt of iron ore at its Miaogou mine, producing 780,000 mt of iron ore concentrate, earning a profit of RMB 500 million ($79.37 million). In January this year, the Miaogou mine produced 67,500 mt of iron ore concentrate with 65.26 percent Fe content.
After 25 years of exploitation, the open-pit resources at Miaogou have been exhausted. The switch to underground mining is expected to ensure sustainable development of the mine.