A plan to almost triple ore processing capacity at Bolivia’s largest tin mine has been approved, according to local press reports quoted by BNAmericas. Empresa Minera Huanuni (EMH) and state mining company Comibol will spend US$40 million to build a new mill which will raise daily ore throughput to 3,000 tpd from less than 1,200 tpd currently. The mine produced 7,875 tonnes of tin-in-concentrate in 2008.
Work on the expansion will begin in the second half of this year, mining director Freddy Beltrán was quoted as saying by state news agency ABI. Increased production of low-grade concentrates will commence in the beginning of 2010. However, Beltrán said there are still 15 days remaining to reach a final decision on equipment to be installed.
La Razon newspaper reported that the investment decision was made on 24 May at a meeting attended by Bolivian Vice President Alvaro Garcia Linera, several Cabinet ministers and leaders of the miners unions. Union official Roberto Chavez told the daily that Huanuni already has the construction project for the infrastructure planned and all that needs to be done to begin work is to iron out a few technical details.
