Despite lower prices, Bolivian production of tin and other metals has increased this year, according to reports this week. Bolivian Mining Minister Luis Albert Echazu told Bloomberg yesterday that average monthly output at the state-controlled Vinto tin smelter has climbed to between 900 and 1,000 tonnes per month, while production at the Huanuni mine had increased to 850 tonnes per month. Monthly production rates at Vinto and Huanuni last year were 795 tpm and 656 tpm respectively.
At the start of this year, Vinto’s general manager reported plans to reactivate two old furnaces at the smelter and the minister predicted that its monthly output would reach 1,000 tpm by August.
Earlier in the week state news agency ABI reported preliminary data showing that Bolivia’s mineral production in the first quarter increased by 25% year-on-year. Zinc output rose 27%, tin was up 23%, silver increased 58% and lead output was 69% higher than in the year-ago period. “This means that despite the crisis Bolivian mining has responded fast enough and made a major effort in production in order to reduce costs,” mining director Freddy Beltrán said.
