In 1956, Beijing nonferrous metals research institute began the research of
tantalum and
niobium. In the 1960s, China began to build production plants, including tantalum-niobium smelting workshop of zhuzhou cemented carbide plant, tantalum-niobium smelting workshop of Shanghai yuelong chemical plant and ningxia nonferrous metal smelting plant. The mines of keketuohai in xinjiang, yichun in jiangxi, chestnut wood in guangxi and baotou in Inner Mongolia have been developed. By the 1990s, China had built a complete system of scientific research and industrial production from mining, smelting, alloy processing, capacitor production and niobium steel production. There are 10 tantalum and niobium mines with annual concentrate production capacity of 95 ~ 100tTa2O5 and 130 ~ 140tNb2O5.There are now seven smelters. Production technology and product quality are up to the international level. Tantalum, niobium products in addition to meeting domestic needs and a large number of exports. The world's third largest nonferrous metal smelter in ningxia has a production capacity of tantalum powder 200t and tantalum wire 100t, among which tantalum wire occupies the leading position in the international market.
