In a recent official presentation made by the Bolivian government, a review of the government’s achievements and ambitions included details of its plans to increase tin production at state enterprises. By 2025, refined tin production at the Vinto smelter is targeted at 30,000 tonnes, supported by expanded mine production of tin-in-concentrate from the Huanuni and Colquiri mines of some 22,600 tonnes.
The growth in refined metal production is from a provisionally estimated total of 11,402 tonnes in 2013. With the labour force at the Vinto plant expected to rise only slightly from 419 currently to 450, productivity is seen as jumping from 27 to 67 annual tonnes per head.
For the Huanuni mine, production is forecast to rise from 7,897 tonnes last year to 14,610 tpy, following the completion of the current expansion project which is expected to be fully operative from 2015. The Huanuni workforce is expected to decline from 4,413 to 3,973, so productivity will rise from 1.8 to 3.3 annual tonnes per head. At Colquiri tin production is forecast to rise from 3,312 tonnes of tin-in-concentrate in 2013 to 8,033 tonnes by 2025, while zinc production is seen rising from 14,764 tonnes to 47,414 tonnes.
