Timah again lowers tin production target due to rains

State tin company PT Timah has again revised downward its production target to 40,000 metric tons this year as widespread rains continue to affect its mining activities.

?We may only able to produce 40,000 tons this year, depending on the weather condition in the coming months,? corporate secretary Abrun Abubakar said in Jakarta on Tuesday.

The company initially targeted to increase production to 50,000 tons this year, a slight increase from 47,000 tons last year. However, due to frequent rains, in August the company lowered the production target to 45,000 tons.

From January to June 2010, Timah only produced 17,588 tons of tins-in-concentrate.

The company?s tin-in-concentrate production in 2009 reached 45,086 tons, down 8 percent from 49,029 tons in 2008. (*)