In an interview with the Jakarta Post on 23 October, PT Timah President Director Sukrisno said the state-controlled tin company was currently conducting a study for a smelter in Myanmar that was expected to conclude by year-end. “We hope to start construction of the Myanmar smelter next year,” he said.
Sukrisno said that the smelter, which is estimated to require Rp 100 billion (US$8.3 million) in investment, would be built to tap into potential from the Myanmar market, as the country currently exports tin unprocessed. The smelting facility would be part of Timah’s 10,000-hectare tin concession area in Pubyien-Tamok, Tanihary. Timah started its exploration in June. Timah is ultimately hoping to acquire concessions for 180,000 hectares and is produce 12,000 tpy of tin in Myanmar.
ITRI View: We estimate that Myanmar will produce some 26,000 tonnes of tin-in-concentrate this year, up from 17,000 tonnes in 2013, most of which is exported for smelting in China. The Myanmar government is currently inviting expressions of interest from private companies in establishing joint ventures to build up local smelting and refining capacity, although the Timah plan appears to be separate from this initiative.
