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 over 90% of the national total.
Australian mine production in the 2006 calendar year declined by 45% to 1,478 tonnes, as a result of the closure of the Renison mine in the final quarter of 2005. Metals X is now finalising plans to re-open Renison, together with the nearby Mount Bischoff mine.
Apart from the new Collingwood mine, the only other operating tin mine in Australia last year was Sons of Gwalia’s Greenbushes tantalum-tin operation in Western Australia. Greenbushes produced 387 tonnes of tin-in-concentrate and 572 tonnes of refined tin in 2006.
