A Scottsdale-based metals company announced Friday it is one step closer to a functional processing plant in China.

El Capitan’s primary business is the exploration of precious metals and other minerals. The company said its pilot ore-processing plant is expected to be in full production early 2017, after the heavy metal equipment arrives in China and is operational.

El Capitan said it has already shipped 20 tons of refined concentrates to its China plant, used to process ore.

U.S. Customs still needs to clear equipment shipments and the U.S. Forest Service needs to approve a Right of Way use to ship ore from the U.S. to China.