Bolivia’s state mining organisation Comibol has seen its tin production fall in the first three quarters of 2012, despite the nationalization of the former Glencore-controlled Colquiri mine in June. According to official mines ministry statistics, tin-in-concentrate production by state-owned mines in January-September was 6,487 tonnes, down by 7.3% compared to the same period of last year. Third quarter production amounted to 2,329 tonnes, down by 1.3% on Q3 2011. Production at Colquiri was severely disrupted through September by a violent dispute between mine employees and militant co-operative workers, while the larger Huanuni mine has also faced increasing production problems.
Production at privately-owned medium-scale mines plummeted from 758 tonnes in Q2 to only 53 tonnes in Q3, reflecting the change in status of Colquiri, while reported production from co-operatives and small mines also fell. Total Bolivian mine production in January-September was 13,980 tonnes, down 7.0% year-on-year.
