Bolivia’s Vinto metallurgical complex (CMV) has restricted its purchases of tin ore to 600 tonnes a month in a move to avoid increasing its roughly US$33 million debt to state tin miner Empresa Minera Huanuni (EMH), according to local press reports monitored by BN Americas.
The reduction in purchases is expected to last for two months while arrangements are made to clear the debts between the two state-owned companies. In the meantime it is possible that Huanuni will seek other buyers for its concentrates.
The Vinto smelter produced 4,090 tonnes of refined tin in the first half of this year (680 tonnes per month) and is embarking on a major moderisation and expansion programme over the next few years.
