Production is due to resume imminently at the Colquiri tin-zinc mine in Bolivia, following a month long stoppage as a result of a dispute between company employees and co-operatives about access to part of the mine. The mine, which produced 2,200 tonnes of tin-in-concentrate last year under the control of Glencore subsidiary Sinchi Wayra, was nationalised in June.
Representatives of salaried workers and cooperatives signed an agreement with the Bolivian government under which both groups will share mining operations on the Rosario vein at Colquiri, a leader of the country’s national cooperative mining federation Fencomin, Andrés Villca, told BNamericas. “An agreement was reached in which salaried workers and cooperative miners will share the Rosario vein. It’s a mutual agreement which must be upheld,” Villca said.
“Now there will be a technical assessment so both parties hold an area at the deposit,” Villca added. A technical committee created by the country’s mining and energy ministry and state miner Comibol will go to Colquiri to define the operating areas for the salaried workers and the cooperatives. The dispute at the mine was part of a wider campaign by Fencomin for greater access to mining areas and tax concessions.
