PT Timah profits and production down in 2011
Indonesia's state-controlled tin producer PT Timah reported a 5% fall in net profit last year, as a fall in sales volumes, higher production costs and higher tax payments offset the positive impact of higher world tin prices. Timah also attributed the decline in its...
MSC secures long-term future for Rahman Hydraulic mine
Malaysia Smelting Corporation has reached agreement with the Perak state government on a new mining lease for its wholly-owned subsidiary Rahman Hydraulic Tin Sdn Bhd, which will run until 2030, the Edge newspaper reports. RHT is the largest mine in Malaysia,...
Delays to Bolivian expansion projects
Plans to expand production at Bolivia's state-owned Huanuni tin mine and Vinto smelter are being further delayed, according to unconfirmed reports reaching ITRI. In tin the centre-piece of the government's medium-term plans is the construction of a new 3,000 tpd...
China imports soared in February
Chinese refined tin imports soared in February to 3,719 tonnes, twelve times higher than a year ago, as well as a 130% growth versus January, according to China Customs data. The large tonnage is believed to include delayed deliveries of substantial volumes of tin...
China mine production still constrained
While some of the larger tin mines in Guangxi province have re-opened recently, smelters in China remain very concerned about raw material supply constraints. Smaller mines in Guangxi are still awaiting permission to re-start, while drought and other environmental...
Australian exploration updates
Stellar Resources has commenced a new one year, 10,000 metres drilling programme at its now 100%-owned Heemskirk project in Tasmania. The project contains three orebodies (Queen Hill, Montana and Severn) and is adjacent to the Renison mine. Indicated and inferred...
Scale of Achmmach resource greatly increased
Kasbah Resources has published a new resource estimate for its Achmmach project in Morocco, with the tonnage of contained tin increased by 150%. The new JORC-compliant indicated and inferred mineral resource estimate of 14.6 million tonnes at 0.9% Sn (for 135,000...
New Indonesian foreign ownership rules could impact MSC
Indonesia's move to limit foreign companies to no more than 49% equity interest in some of its mines could spell bad news for Malaysian companies with mining operations in the republic, the country's The Edge financial daily reported. Indonesia's Energy and Mineral...
Toyota to take 20% stake in Achmmach tin project
Toyota Tsusho Corporation has signed an MOU giving it an option to acquire up to a 20% interest in the Kasbah Resources' Achmmach tin project in Morocco. Toyota Tsusho is one of the world's largest tin trade houses and claims to account for approximately 8% of the...