Xie said that the investigation into building the joint-stock plant in Brazil with CVRD has been basically completed and the item suggestion report has been authorized by the Central Government. At present, the Brazilian side is researching local environment, land and the project status. "Our original plan is to put in 1.5 billion yuan ($187.03 million) but we expect this to increase slightly," Xie said.

At the same time, Xie said the plan to build a plant in Zhanjiang has not received authorization from the government, but it is in accordance with the requirement of encouraging steel corporations to invest in coastal areas, as laid down in the New Rules for the Steel Sector, so she is not unduly worried about it. Xie also said that the Zhanjiang plan hopes to combine the reorganization and alteration of such old Guangdong enterprises as Shaoguan Iron and Steel and Guangzhou Iron and Steel.

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