Bolivian production falls in first half

Latest official figures show Bolivia’s mine production and refined output of tin falling in the first half of this year. Mine production of tin-in-concentrate in January-June fell by 4.3% year-on-year to 9,482 tonnes, while refined metal production was 6,714...

Comibol re-structuring resumes

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...

Glencore protests at Colquiri nationalisation

Glencore International released a strongly worded statement in response to the decree by the government of Bolivia nationalising the Colquiri tin-zinc mine in La Paz province, noting that the action “will pose a number of serious questions relating to the...

Production halted at Colquiri mine

Following an occupation by miners belonging to independent cooperatives who want to be granted new areas to mine, production at the Colquiri tin-zinc mine in Bolivia has been halted since 30 May. The mine is operated by Glencore subsidiary Sinchi Wayra under a leasing...

Deal close on Glencore Bolivian mines

The Bolivian state mining holding company, Comibol, is close to finalising new joint venture agreements for several mines operated by Glencore International subsidiary Sinchi Wayra, including the Colquiri zinc-tin mine. “By May 17 or 18 we could be ready to sign...

Glencore reports robust trading, jump in tin production

Glencore International PLC reported that its marketing operations “continued to trade robustly” in the first quarter of 2012 and that it was making encouraging progress in a range of mine production expansion projects. Among its metals operations, tin...

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...

China tin imports decline in January

China imported 1,615 tonnes refined tin in January, according to latest China Customs data. This was less than half of December’s level, and the biggest month-on-month decline of all the base metals. The refined tin imported was mainly from Indonesia and...

Vinto expansion to be completed by H2

The Ausmelt furnace that Bolivia’s Vinto metallurgical complex (EMV) is installing will be up and running in H2, an official from state miner Comibol told BNamericas. “Right now, the last pieces of equipment are being installed and the testing stage is...

Fall in Vinto production

Tin output from Bolivian state producer Empresa Metalúrgica Vinto (EMV) declined to 10,965 tonnes in 2011, compared to 11,516 tonnes in 2010, though sales revenue increased, Business News Americas reported, quoting local sources. Despite the lower output, the company...