SMM, Sept. 4: iner Grupo, a Mexican company, is likely to reopen the country's largest underground mine in the first quarter of 2019, a senior government official said in an interview. The comprehensive mine was closed more than a decade ago because of a strike by workers. (Carlos Barcena), the economy minister in northern Zakatakas, said the company began renovating the San Martin (San Martin) copper mine a week ago, which contains copper, silver, lead and zinc. "the company is expected to start operating in the first quarter of 2019," Barcena said. " A Mexican official familiar with the situation confirmed the plan, but was not authorized to give an interview to the media. A spokesman for the company declined to comment. In July 2007, the factory in St Martin was suspended due to labour clashes with (SNTMMSRM), a powerful national union of miners led by Napoleon Gomez. In 2005, before the mine was sealed, St. Martin produced about 8000 tons of copper and 19000 tons of zinc. Analysts at Monex say the launch of the new business could help boost Grupo Mexico's annual sales by 1 per cent.