Bolivian state-owned tin producer Vinto expects production of 12,000t this year, an official from the mining and metallurgy ministry (MMM) told BNamericas.

“In 2009 Vinto saw record production of 11,800t and the goal is to increase this amount,” the official said.

The 2009 total was 24% more than the 9,544t produced in 2008.

The official also said that the company has approved an investment budget of around US$150mn that will be used to repair smelting furnaces.

The company is also in the middle of constructing the infrastructure to house an Ausmelt furnace, which will be fired up in 2011 and increase production capacity by 90% to 38,000t/y.

In January the country’s normalization and quality institute (Ibnorca) certified Vinto under the NB 1101003:2006 regulation, which certifies the metallic tin it produces as 99.95% pure.

Vinto is located in the Oruro department.

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