Indonesian tin producer PT Koba Tin plans to produce 9,017 tonnes of tin this year, or 750 tpm, Metal Bulletin reports. Koba Tin is Indonesia’s second largest integrated producer after PT Timah, the world’s second largest tin supplier. Koba is owned 75% by Malaysia Smelting Corporation and 25% by Timah. Timah’s production plan for 2009 has not yet been officially announced.
Koba produced 7,200 tonnes of refined tin in 2008, including the treatment of stockpiled slags. The growth in production this year will come from the opening of four new gravel pump units and a planned resumption of small-scale sub-contractor mining. Koba also operates one large onshore dredge.
The use of sub-contractors was halted in January last year following allegations by local police that two of the companies had been involved in mining in a forest reserve. MSC reported in November that “the necessary approvals from the relevant authorities to resume small-scale mining were finally received in October 2008”.
