Bolivian miners protest lay-offs

Jan 9, 2009

Bolivia’s Federation of Mining Unions (FSTMB), which has some 15,000 members, has called for a general strike to protest lay-offs by private companies as mineral prices sag, union leader Guido Mitma told Reuters on Thursday. “The Mining Federation has...

Tin lags growth in LME trading volumes

Jan 6, 2009

The London Metal Exchange (LME) achieved another record year in 2008 with over 113 million lots traded, representing a year-on-year increase of nearly 22%. 2008 annual volume represented some $10.24 trillion in turnover, an increase of 7% on 2007. The bulk of activity...

Koba Tin boosts mine production

Jan 6, 2009

Indonesian tin producer PT Koba Tin plans to produce 9,017 tonnes of tin this year, or 750 tpm, Metal Bulletin reports. Koba Tin is Indonesia’s second largest integrated producer after PT Timah, the world’s second largest tin supplier. Koba is owned 75% by...

Yunnan stockpile scheme comes into operation

Jan 2, 2009

The Yunnan provincial government plan to support local base metals producers by arranging stockpiling through 2009 has come into effect, according to official and trade reports this week. Yunnan Tin, the only officially designated tin supplier, is reported to be...

Bolivian state companies to boost output in 2009

Jan 2, 2009

Bolivia’s state-run Huanuni tin mine is on course to more than double production by March, according to mining and metallurgy minister Luis Alberto Echazú, while a planned furnace refurbishment at the Vinto smelter by August will provide extra capacity...

Timah invests in tin chemicals, new dredges

Dec 23, 2008

Indonesia’s PT Timah will roll forward some Rp 530 billion (US$48 million) of planned capital spending into 2009, with most of the total to be spent on a tin chemicals plant and new offshore dredges. President Director of Timah Wachid Usman told Bisnis Indonesia...