Bangka smelters require new mining licences
Indonesian government sources have told Metal Bulletin that independent tin smelters seeking to re-open need to obtain new mining licences from the central government. The Indonesian government ruled last week that the six smelters applying for permission to export...
Jinchuan Group acquires stake in Metals X
China’s largest nickel producer, Jinchuan Group Limited, has taken a 13% stake in the Australian tin/nickel company and ITRI member Metals X (formerly Bluestone Tin). Jinchuan subscribed to 117 million new Metals X shares for A$32.76 million. The deal, subject...
Indonesia gives tin supply commitment
Following discussions with tin industry body ITRI, Indonesia’s Minister of Energy and Resources, Professor Purnomo Yusgiantoro, has made it clear that Indonesia will make every effort to maintain tin supplies to the global market. Indonesian production has been...
Yunnan Tin acquires majority shareholding in Gejiu Zili
Yunnan Tin Group announced on March 12 that it has signed a deal to purchase a 67% stake in Gejiu Zili Metallurgy Co., Ltd., according to Antaike in Beijing. Yunnan Tin is the largest producer of refined tin worldwide, with 2006 output of 52,399 tonnes. The total...
Australian tin production starts to recover
Australian production of tin-in-concentrate increased by 182% year-on-year to 656 tonnes, according to new official statistics published by ABARE. This reflects the build up towards full capacity by Metals X’s Collingwood mine in Queensland, which accounted for...
Huanuni strike settled
Normal working resumed at Comibol’s Huanuni mine in Bolivia yesterday after 5,000 striking workers returned to work. The strike had begun on Saturday over payment of productivity bonuses for January. In January tin-in-concentrate production reached a record...
Minister denies Indonesian quota plan
Indonesia's energy and resources minister has dismissed talk that the government may impose a quota on tin exports. The denial followed a comment made by an official in the ministry last week that the country may attempt to support prices through the imposition of a...
Mixed rumours on Indonesian tin exports
Opposing views on official attitudes to Indonesian exports were reported in the metals press on Wednesday. Metal Bulletin noted that the newly elected governor of Bangka Belitung province was supportive of independent smelters. Eko Maulana Ali Suroso was announced as...
PT Timah is sole authorised Indonesian tin exporter
The state controlled tin company PT Timah is since February 23 the only company in Indonesia with an export permit from the Trade ministry. Timah’s licence was granted last Friday, but other applications by seven independent smelters were turned down. The...