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Mining
Bolivia country long mining tradition faces a great challenge. The
importance of mining in the future development of the country in
question is facing the crisis that affects all sectors of productive
activity. Due to the serious economic situation afflicting the country
during the last months there were serious social conflicts that resulted
in numerous strikes and blockades of various sectors of the population,
particularly in the west.
As can be seen in the map showing the areas of current mining activity
and potential in Bolivia in the future development of the sector will be
in a context in which various forms to be compatible for use, occupation
and management of the territory. Ecological diversity of the country
determined that many mining concessions in areas under any category of
protected area and in areas of high environmental sensitivity. Recent
processes of land allocation to communities also presents challenges and
opportunities that mining must face forward. Conflicts over land use are
also other important sectors of national economy as the hydrocarbon
sector, the forestry and agriculture. This raises the need for
compatible action to allow in the near future to promote mineral
development with protection criteria and environmental conservation, so
that the country is geared towards sustainable forms of development.
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Resources and reserves
From colonial times Bolivia was one of the largest producers of
silver and tin in the world, however, it is estimated that only 10%
of the country's mineral potential was exploited. But the great
potential of mineralogic Bolivia, in the last three to four decades,
there were no systematic exploration work; there is no official
information on global reserves of mineral resources of the country
due to excessive state intervention before 1985 and the trend of
metal prices after 1985.
The mining crisis of the mid eighty - because of the collapse of tin
prices in the international market for this metal and the declining
trend in international prices of metals in general - significantly
decreased the interest in research on mineral resources. The
available information refers to regions and prospective reserves of
some specific projects. The latest information on mineral resources
of the country dates back to 1990.
In analysis of the mineral resources and reserves are made on the
basis of the mineral zinc, gold, silver and tin, because these four
minerals represent the main products of the mining sector in Bolivia
(see points B, C and E). According to information from the preceding
table, the proven and probable reserves of zinc in 1990 to reach 41
years of exploitation, the extraction rate of that year, and
possible reserves for 52 years of exploitation. Proven and probable
reserves of tin, gold, silver and lead stood for 65, 222, 120 and 28
years of operation, respectively, to the extraction rate of 1990 and
the reserves available for 45, 130, 49 and 58 years of operation,
respectively.
Mineral reserves in 1990, decreased by operating activities of 10
years, and in other cases, increased by the development of reserves.
Proven and probable reserves of zinc, silver and lead were
significantly increased by the development of reserves in the
oilfield complex zinc - silver - lead of San Cristobal, in the north
of Potosí, which is currently in the construction phase, with
reservations Proven and probable 240 million tons of ore with 14.9
thousand tons of silver, 4 million tons of zinc and 1.4 million tons
of lead.
- The reservations of the San Cristobal zinc to
reach 27 years of exploitation, the exploitation rate in 2000, the
reserves for 34 years silver and lead reserves for 147 years. Proven and
probable reserves of zinc, reach for the holding of about 90 years, the
exploitation rate in 2000 - the highest production level reached by this
mineral in the entire history of the national mining - plus the existing
reserves to 1990 less the operation of 10 years, but the reserves of San
Cristobal. For its part, the reserves of gold to reach the farm of about
143 years, the exploitation rate in 2000. These latest figures show the
great potential of mining in Bolivia the two main products of the mining
sector in this country (National Association of Medium Miners, 2000)
While Bolivia is not a producer of ferrous minerals, has a major banded
iron deposits in the world. Mutún deposits with proven and probable
reserves of 121,017,752 tons of fine iron and possible reserves of
39,757,964,770 tons (Mining Corporation of Bolivia, 1998). Finally,
Bolivia's territory is home to the largest lithium deposit in the world
of the Salar of Uyuni. This site has preliminary reserves of 5,500,000
tons of lithium.
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1. Management Environment.
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7. Training. |
