The Bolivian government has resumed a project to restructure state miner Comibol and called on the mining sector to collaborate in moving forward with the initiative, a spokesman for the country’s mining and metals ministry told BNamericas. As part of the restructuring Comibol may absorb the currently separate state tin smelter EM Vinto.

Bolivian President Evo Morales called on mining cooperatives and the private sector to work together with the state sector in order to define and draft the restructuring of Comibol, which will be part of a project for a new mining law in the country. “The three sectors must start working together with mutual accord based on the constitution and thus not pass up this great opportunity to change those regulations handed to us in the past,” the president said.

Meanwhile a separate report by Metal Bulletin suggested that tin and zinc production at the recently nationalized Colquiri mine could be trebled. Comibol president Hector Cordoba told MB that the mine plans to hire 500 additional workers. Comibol obtained pre-takeover production levels within a week of restarting operations, despite some difficulties, Cordova said, noting that an expert engineer who has worked in the Colquiri mine in the past has been appointed as manager. “Good technicians have been recruited and a management strategy to facilitate the transition has been defined,” he added.