PT Timah to boost zirconium production

State owned tin mining company PT Timah plans to increase gangue mineral production such as zirconium to help boost revenue amid the fall in tin prices in the world market, Kontan reported on Thursday.

As part of the program to increase gangue minerals found in tin deposit, PT Timah will develop a new smelting center and upgrade existing smelters in the company?s mining sites in Mentok, West Bangka.

The company?s corporate secretary Agung Nugroho said that the company was currently developing two projects worth Rp 62 billion to support the program . The projects consisted of the development of a smelting technology which required investment of about Rp 12 billion, and the improvement of technology in existing smelters which would cost about Rp 50 billion, he said.

With the use of the new smelting technology, PT Timah would be able to increase additional minerals found in tin deposits such as monazite, limonite and zirconium. At present, PT Timah can produce about 500 tons of zirconium ore a year. With the new technology, the zirconium production could be increased to 1,000 tons a year, Agung said.

PT Timah is also considering to acquire zirconium mines from other mining companies in order to further boost non-tin mineral production. (*)