Timah adopts new tin processing technologies

By Romel S. Gurky

IDX-listed tin giant PT Timah Tbk is adopting new tin processing technologies in a bid to help improve tin recovery.

The company said in a statement Thursday that a new tin fuming plant is currently under construction and is expected to be completed and start operation in April of 2018.

?Our new technology can reprocess tin residues with recovery rate of 96.5 percent, and capacity of 85 tons per day,? the company said in the statement, adding that it has allocated Rp 61 billion investor for the new technology.

The company added that tin smelting with a more advanced technology called Ausmelt is targeted to be completed in May 2020 with capacity of 45,000 tons per year.

?The special feature (of Ausmelt) is its ability to process low grade tin ores and ores from primary reserves with recovery rate of 98 percent,? Timah said, adding that it has allocated capital expenditure of US$56 million for the new technology.

Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak