Minsur’s San Rafael mine in Peru’s Puno province returned to full production from the end of May, ITRI understands, following nine months of reduced operations while the company awaited all necessary approvals of its tailings storage facilities. Since late August last year, ore throughput at the mine had been reduced by approximately 25%.
Official metals production data released by Peru’s mines ministry yesterday showed that production of tin-in-concentrates plummeted 25.4% year-on-year to 2,346 tonnes in April and 26.2% to 9,136 tonnes in the first four months of the year. Prior to the enforced cutback, the mine – the only tin producer in Peru – was producing a little over 3,000 tpm.
Company sources also confirmed that mining operations were not being affected by ongoing protests in the southern part of Puno against mining and hydroelectric power projects in the province. Protestors, most of them Aymara Indians who say they are concerned about pollution, have been mounting roadblocks in support of demands to President-elect Ollanta Humala.
Humala has said he will work to end social conflicts over natural resource projects that have plagued mining companies in Peru. He takes office on July 28. “We are going to fundamentally focus on social programs,” Humala told Reuters on Tuesday. Humala has promised to spread the wealth from Peru’s resource boom to the poorest parts of the country, stoking fears he will undermine an economic boom that triggered a deep stock market sell-off following his election victory at the start of the week.
