Translation:
Is indefinitely postpones project in Oruro and Potosi
International companies have no interest to install zinc refineries
International companies specialized in the installation of foundries, while on three occasions sent them direct invitations, have no interest in the project of construction of the plant hydrometallurgy of Zinc in Oruro, according to report of the President of the Corporacin Minera de Bolivia (Comibol), Marcelino Quispe Lpez.
The Executive of the governmental Comibol, made aware that report in a letter to the Minister of mining, Mario Virreyra, who in turn reported the outcome of the advance of the installation project of Oruro and Potosi zinc smelters, the President of the Commission of economic policy planning and industrialization of the parliamentary Brigade of Oruro, Senator Ricardo Ailln lvarez.
Minister Virreira, the document, noted that the report on the recruitment process of the project of construction of the plant hydrometallurgy of Zinc in the Department of Oruro, was developed by the Comibol as responsible for the process.
The President of the Comibol Marcelino Quispe, realized that in October 2012 the Comibol project management in coordination with the Royal Silver company elaborates a TESA study for the installation of a plant hydrometallurgy; purpose that neither materialized.
He said that: "Three times is sent direct invitations, to international companies for the installation of two refineries of zinc in the departments of Oruro and Potosi, without any result," reporting that the hiring process is currently with terms of reference reviewed by a Commission that has made amendments to the previous documents, on the basis of recommendations made to the technical management and operations of the Comibol, according to Quispe.
According to the technical report, "is considered of great importance before the sent invitations to selected companies, that the Comibol carried out an inventory of all production of zinc in the country, in order to know that amount is produced".
Also at the time of inventory production must provide representative samples of the different concentrates for their chemical and mineralogical characterization, to qualify of high, medium and low grade concentrates, as well as the classification of concentrated simple type esfaleritico or complex as the marmatiticos, so that companies interested in build smelting of zinc "can see the types of refineries (priometalurgicas or hydrometallurgical) adapted to the production of zinc in Bolivia and to carry out his proposals with greater technical support", according to the report of the members of the review Commission, Jorge Medina Ramrez and Digenes Roque Ticona, sent to the technical manager and operations of Comibol, Zelma Andia Valverde.
On the other hand, "in relation to the location of refineries, the Commission considers Comibol must present to the undertakings concerned a list with alternative, both in Oruro and Potosi places, so these the bidder can select which creates more convenient.
The first direct hiring process was carried out on May 11, 2012, but to date interest of companies no Internments in the implementation of refining of zinc in Oruro and Potos, which shows that it has been more than one year and means, without any positive result, by which parliamentary Brigade will recommend takes place an open international tenderto realize this project is in its infancy, according to Senator Ricardo Ailln.
The project manager of the Comibol, Jos Ramiro Zanabria, in its report on the progress of the bidding, said that to not have prospered three tenders, means that no contract there is and that the subsequent reasoning included the conclusions of the "Symposium, heading to the industrialization of Zinc", clearly show the delicacy of treatment for the purpose of implementation of the two refineries of zinc in Oruro and Potosi