Tin production at smelters operated by the Bangka-Belitung Timah Sejatera consortium in Indonesia, the world’s biggest exporter of the metal, fell to 20 percent of normal levels as heavy rains and a crackdown on illegal mining disrupted the supply of ore.
“From seven smelters in our consortium, only two of them have restarted output,” said Johan Murod, a consortium director, adding that monthly production reached about 200 tons for each smelter in January.
Bangka-Belitung Timah, which stopped production in August because of problems in verifying ore supplies, can produce as much as 2,000 tons of refined tin a month when running full steam, Murod said.
“Hopefully we can reach maximum capacity in April,” he added.
Police operations to curb illegal mining also tightened ore supplies from traditional miners, Murod said. CV Makmur Jaya, a tin smelter, stopped operations this week.
http://www.thejakartaglobe.com/business/bangka-belitung-timah-tin-output-washed-out-by-rain/356834
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