Indonesian smelter re-starts delayed

May 21, 2007

Although 10 independent smelters in Indonesia now have operating permits and export licences, they have been slow to re-start operations, according to a Reuters report today. The smelters have not resumed operations as they are still preparing machinery idle for...

Vinto rejects extra workers

May 17, 2007

La Empresa Metalúrgica Vinto (EMV), the new state company running the Vinto tin smelter in Bolivia, has rejected a proposal that it takes on an extra 150 workers, according to Bolivian newspaper La Razon. The 12,000 tpy plant was forcibly nationalized in...

New consortium plan for Indonesian producers

May 15, 2007

A leading Indonesian businessman has announced plans to set up a ‘consortium’ involving all tin producers in Bangka and Belitung in order to get maximum benefits from the commodity, local newspaper Bangka Pos reported late last week. Tommy Winata, the...

Peruvian production to increase in 2007

May 15, 2007

Peru’s production of most non-ferrous metals is forecast to increase this year, according to the national mining association SNMPE. Mine production of tin is expected to increase slightly to 39,000 tonnes, from 38,462 tonnes last year. Small increases in lead,...

First shipments by Indonesian independent smelters imminent

May 8, 2007

Several recently re-licensed independent tin smelters are expected to make their first shipments of refined tin from Bangka island in the next day or two. Since the introduction of a new export licence system at the end of February only the state-controlled PT Timah...

Dispute at Huanuni mine settled

May 4, 2007

A three-day strike at the Huanuni tin mine in Bolivia over productivity bonuses was settled on Thursday. The dispute was over the scale of productivity payments for March, when production at the mine reached a recent record level. A similar short strike occurred in...