China Invests $74 Million to Lift Bayan Obo Iron Ore Output 50%
Updated
Updated · South China Morning Post · Aug 7
China Invests $74 Million to Lift Bayan Obo Iron Ore Output 50%
2 articles · Updated · South China Morning Post · Aug 7
Summary
$74 million will be invested to raise Bayan Obo's mine output to 15 million tonnes from 10 million, a 50% increase at one of China's key iron ore operations.
The expansion targets iron mining capacity rather than rare earths, even though Bayan Obo is the world's largest rare earth deposit and also contains Fluorite, niobium, Scandium and thorium.
Rare earth output policy will stay unchanged because production is governed by quotas, with geologist Li Yang saying there is no need to mine more ore for that segment.
The plan underscores the gap between Bayan Obo's vast geological resources and its current production, while reinforcing China's focus on iron supply from the Inner Mongolia site.