SHANGHAI, Jun. 23 -- Bolivian state tin producer Empresa Metalurgica Vinto (EMV) has increased its 2010 production goal to 13,000 tonnes, a spokesperson from the country's mining and metallurgy ministry (MMM) told BNamericas. "The new projection is based on the incorporation of the antimony plant to the production process," the spokesperson said.

The Bolivian government nationalized the adjoining Vinto antimony smelter, which was held by Bolivian miner Sinchi Wayra, a subsidiary of Swiss group Glencore International in early May after having expropriated EMV itself from Glencore in February 2007.

The Vinto plant produced 11,805 tonnes of refined tin in 2009 and increased output further, by 4.3% year-on-year, to 2,901 tonnes in the first quarter of 2010. Plant capacity will be substantially increased over the next year as the installation of a new Ausmelt furnace is completed.