In an extended interview published by BNAmericas, the General Manager of Bolivia’s Vinto smelter, Ramiro Villavicencio, revealed plans to expand tin production capacity to 22,000 tpy and build a new 30,000 tpy capacity zinc smelter, to make use of existing infrastructure and local supply of concentrates which are currently exported.
“This year we are forecasting total tin production of 13,000 tonnes based on the installed capacity that we currently have at the plant, which means using 80% of Bolivia’s concentrate production capacity. The plant has installed capacity of 13,500t and we will be producing at nearly 100% capacity. We also have the Ausmelt project, which uses state-of-the-art technology that in the beginning will push production up to 18,000t/y and later to 22,000t/y” he said
Commenting on progress of the Ausmelt project, Villavicencio commented that civil works at Vinto is just beginning, but off-site construction of equipment is already underway. “To date work is 40% complete. Once we have started civil works we will have about seven months to finish the project and so far everything is going as scheduled. The only thing that we’re a little worried about is the loan from the government for another US$12million, but it’s possible that we will sign for this loan this week.
Government investment plans also call for a diversification of activities, with the main emphasis on smelting of zinc concentrates. The San Cristóbal, Bolívar and Colquiri mines are all seen as potential sources of supply for a 30,000 tpy zinc smelter which could be built in the next three years. This would also allow the production of byproducts like silver, lead, indium and cadmium.
