Bolivia’s government has not pursued plans to take over several privately operated mines in the country, including Glencore’s Colquiri zinc-tin operation. It had been anticipated that President Evo Morales would announce this during 1 May labour day celebrations, but the move – supported by unions representing workers at state companies – was opposed by other unions. The Colquiri mine, operated by Glencore’s local subsidiary Sinchi Wayra, produces over 2,000 tpy of tin-in-concentrates.
Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera pointed to serious differences within Bolivia’s estimated 100,000 mine workers for the turnaround, Dow Jones reported. "Unfortunately, eight other syndicates of miners have petitioned against it," Mr. Garcia told state miners at a rally in which Mr. Morales spoke only briefly. Last week, the Federated Syndicate of Bolivian Mine Workers, which represents miners employed in the private sector, threatened to strike. "We are not going to permit the state to take control of those mines", said union leader Cesar Lugo.
