Tin production by Bolivia’s state-controlled mines in 2012 exceeded 10,000 tonnes for the first time in recent years. Official figures from the ministry of mines and metallurgy show that output of tin-in-concentrates by Comibol rose by 5.8% to 10,247 tonnes last year. The majority of the production comes from the Huanuni mine, although the increase was due to the nationalisation of the former Glencore Colquiri tin-zinc mine in the middle of last year. Colquiri produced 2,200 tonnes of contained tin in 2011 and had been expanding prior to its nationalisation. Production from Huanuni is due to increase over the next few years, when a delayed project to greatly expand ore processing capacity is completed.
Total Bolivian tin mine production fell by 3.3% to 19,702 tonnes in 2012. The change in status of Colquiri meant that production from privately-owned “medium mines” fell by 34.4% to 1,559 tonnes, with recorded output in the second half plummeting to only 109 tonnes, believed to come from the Barrosquira and International Mining groups. Production by small mines and co-operatives is officially reported to have fallen by 5.0% to 7,895 tonnes.
Refined tin production at the state-owned Vinto smelter rose by 2.6% to 11,241 tonnes in 2012. A larger increase in production, based on the use of a new Ausmelt furnace, will be mainly dependent on the completion of the Huanuni expansion. Total Bolivian refined metal production last year was 14,280 tonnes, with the balance accounted for by the private smelter OMSA.
