Bolivia is a traditional mining producer and exporter. Mining has been its main economic lifeline for hundreds of years. Bolivia has a long history of mining production. Before Columbus discovered the New World, the local Indians had begun to mine gold, silver, copper and tin, and mastered the technology of making utensils, utensils and weapons with copper or copper-tin alloy, and making decorations with gold and silver. Since 1545 Potous Cerro Rico silver mine was developed, Bolivia has become the only "golden country" discovered by Spanish in countless explorations in America. At that time, silver production ranked first in the world. Bolivia, with its rich silver reserves, naturally became the key plundering target country of Spain in America. At the end of colonial rule, the output of gold and silver decreased greatly. After Bolivia's independence, the mining industry mainly produced tin, copper, lead, zinc, sulfur and bismuth, and later increased the exploitation of tungsten, antimony, oil and natural gas. Silver production has also resumed. During this period, American and British capital infiltrated into Bolivia one after another, and gradually controlled Bolivia's mining production, mainly American capital. By World War II, the three major companies controlled by the United States occupied almost all the tin mines in Bolivia.
In the 20th century, the output of tin-antimony ore in Bolivia jumped to the forefront of the world. Before World War II, the output of tin always ranked first in the western world. In the Second World War, due to the involvement of Asian tin-producing countries in the war, as a strategic material, the price of tin doubled and its international status improved. After the war, the demand for tin in the international market decreased, coupled with the development of production in other tin-producing countries, and the United States used its strategic tin reserves to manipulate tin prices, resulting in a continuous decline in tin production and a shrinking market.
1995, after the nationalist revolutionary movement led by Paz Estenssoro launched the people's armed uprising to seize power, Paz nationalized American mining companies and established state-owned mining companies, which strengthened the state's control over the mining industry, but also allowed the existence of small and medium-sized private mining companies or mining cooperatives. For many years, state-owned mining companies have been controlling about 70% of Bolivia's mining production and playing a decisive role.
The figure of 1997 shows that the development of mineral products accounts for 24% of the gross national product (GNP), of which mining accounts for 1/4(5.6%) and oil and natural gas accounts for 1/6(3.7%). 1997 the mining and quarrying industry has created an output value of $680 million for the national economy (the level of 1990). Mining and quarrying accounted for 47% of the gross national product in 1997, and increased to 48% in 1998.
(1) tin ore
Boting used to be the fist product of mining industry and played the role of economic pillar for a long time. The production and export of tin plays an important role in Bolivia's national economy and is the main source of foreign exchange income. Tin production in Latin America accounts for 19% of the world, and the main producers are Bolivia, Brazil, Peru and Argentina. Before 1979, the tin output remained at about 30,000 tons, accounting for one fifth of the western world, ranking second. After 1979, the output decreased year by year, reaching 28,000 tons, 1985, 16000 tons, 1996, 15000 tons. With the drop of tin price in the international market, many tin mines in Bolivia closed down directly. 1997 The output of refined tin reached 16900 tons, greatly reduced to 1 1000 tons.
(2) Silver mine
Bolivia's silver production level is not high, ranking ninth in the world or 10. The silver output of 1998 and 1999 mines is 402 tons and 422 tons respectively, accounting for 2.5% of the world silver output. However, the silver deposits in this country are not only large in scale, but also very low in mining cost, which makes silver one of Bolivia's most competitive main export metals. In 1997 and 198, silver earned foreign exchange of 197 and198 dollars and 72 million dollars respectively, accounting for 16% of the country's major metal mineral exports.
(3) Antimony ore
Bolivia is rich in antimony reserves, with more than 150 vein ore bodies. In addition to antimony, the vein is also accompanied by gold and tin sand. A single vein is small (originally about 0.6~0.9m), with many points and concentration, mainly occurring in tin ore belt. Antimony mines are mostly mined by private companies on a small scale. 1975- 1977 The output of antimony ore in Bolivia was as high as 16000 ~ 17000 tons/year, and decreased to1978-1982+03000 ~/. The largest antimony enterprise in this country is Vinto Tin Antimony Smelter. At present, Vinto Smelter is still in operation, because it has not found a buyer, and most of its concentrates are exported to the United States. At present, Bolivia has changed from exporting ore and refined antimony to mainly exporting antimony oxide. 1995 and 1996 exported 4,525 tons and 4,550 tons of antimony oxide, accounting for 92.4% and 96.4% of the total antimony exports respectively; The export volume of antimony oxide from 1997 and 1998 is 49 15 tons and 3725 tons, respectively, accounting for 97.3% and 99.5% of the total antimony export. Mainly exported to Britain, the United States and Belgium. 1998 exported to Britain is 2098 tons, exported to America is 1 168 tons, and exported to Belgium is 425 tons. Privatization of antimony mining in Bolivia continues to hinder antimony production. In 1999, the output of antimony ore in Bolivia was 3,300 tons, which was 30.0% lower than that in 1998. Chilcobia Mine of Empresa Minera Unificada has only produced 65,438+0,2000 tons of antimony concentrate since the beginning of the year, but it has to use its ore reserves to fulfill the contract signed with the state-owned Vinto Tin Antimony Smelter. Cia Minera Salinas is still carrying out a small amount of antimony mining activities, but at the beginning of 1999, it can only provide raw materials for Vinto Tin Antimony Smelter at the rate of 100 tons/month.
(4) Tungsten ore
Tungsten ore is also a traditional production and export product of Bolivia. From 1970s to 1984, the output of tungsten ore has been hovering at the level of more than 2,000 tons, ranking third in the western world after Canada and South Korea. Tungsten is mainly produced by medium-sized enterprises, accounting for about half of the national tungsten output. Since 1990s, the output of tungsten ore in Bolivia has dropped to 500 ~ 600 tons, and the output of 1998 is 627 tons, ranking third in the western world, next only to Austria and Portugal. 1998 tungsten exports earned 2.5 million US dollars, and the United States is Bolivia's largest importer. From 65438 to 0999, Bolivia's tungsten mine output was further reduced to 334 tons.
(5) Zinc ore
The development of Sancristobal silver mine has made Bolivia an important zinc producer in the world. 145,000 tons of zinc in Bolivian mines in 1996, increased to154,500 tons in 1997, and slightly decreased to150,700 tons in 1998 (accounting for 2.
2. Import and export of mineral products
More than 90% of glass mineral products are exported. In 1980s, the export of glass mines showed a downward trend in both quantity and amount. The total export value of mineral products in 1980 was still above $640 million, while in 1986 it was less than $200 million. The percentage of mineral products exports to total exports 1985 is 39.2%, and 1986 is 33.2%, which is lower than that of natural gas exports (accounting for more than 55%). Among all mineral products exported, tin still ranks first, with 1980 exporting US$ 239 million (accounting for about 37% of the total export of mineral products) and 1986 exporting US$ 960 million (accounting for about 49% of the total export of mineral products). In the 1990s, the export income of glass mines rebounded, but it was still lower than that in the 1980s. The total export value of mineral products of 1997 and 1998 reached $520 million and $450 million respectively. Among all mineral products exports, zinc ranks first, and the exports of 1.997 and 1.998 are $200 million and $654.38+0.5 billion respectively. Followed by tin, the export volume of tin in 1997 and 1998 is 12400 tons and 10400 tons respectively, and the foreign exchange earned reaches1400,000 dollars and1370,000 dollars respectively.
The traditional export targets of mineral products are the United States, Britain and West Germany. In the 1990s, the export targets of glass mines were still mainly the United States and Western Europe, followed by Latin American countries, mainly the United States, Britain, Argentina, Belgium, Chile, Germany and Peru. According to national statistics, the proportion of mineral products exports to Bolivia's total exports is: US 13.5%, UK 5.9%; West Germany 5.0%, the rest are less than 2%.
Table 16 Bolivia's main mineral output and export earnings
1998 Bolivia's main mineral output and export income are as follows: 16. The figures in table 16 show that although the output of 1998 precious metals increased, the output of non-ferrous metals decreased. These trends reflect that the international prices of most mineral products in Bolivia fell during the year. 1997 although the price of silver rose by 13% on average, it began to fall at the end of the year. The decline of zinc price (only 78% of the price of 1997) is accurately reflected in the export income of 1998; The same is true for lead (85%). In contrast, the price of 1998 is 2 1%, and its average price is basically the same as that of 1997. Although the price of gold decreased by 12%, the export income did not decrease much, because the quantity of Purquio Norte in Santa Cruz increased.
Bolivia's mining industry has traditionally been divided into state-owned sectors, cooperative and artisanal miners and commercial mines. However, with the continuous reform of economic system, this dichotomy can not meet the needs of mining statistics gradually. 1985, the output value of state-owned Bolivian mining company (Comibol for short) accounted for 565,438+0% of Bolivia's total mining output value, but by 65,438+0,998, the proportion had dropped to 5.4%. Except for Huanuni tin mine and Colquiri zinc-tin mine, the former state-owned Comibol mine was either reorganized into a joint venture with private enterprises or transferred to cooperative mining enterprises.
Comibol will become a holding company, making profits by leasing licenses to others and being operated by others (selling the company's mines requires amending the national constitution). The company has been trying to merge the remaining two mines as subsidiary mines into another asset, Vinto Smelter, as a package capitalization solution to get rid of the economic and social burdens of these two mines. As one of the sources of raw materials for Vinto Smelter, Colquiri caused a loss of $3 million to the government in 1998, and Comibol is trying to reduce its current staff of up to 230 people.
Huanuni's situation is equally dangerous. Overall, Comibol Company lost $5 million in 1998. Its assets also include Mutun iron mine and Cerro Rico silver mine in the southeast.
More important in terms of output and employment are cooperative miners and so-called small miners, many of whom use Comibol licenses to transfer mining licenses after the early mine closure. 1998, 35% of Bolivia's mining output value comes from cooperative miners and small miners, who account for 30% of Bolivia's zinc production, 38% of its silver production, 42% of its antimony production, 16% of its gold production, 25% of its tin production and 19% of its lead production. The number of owners in this field is decreasing sharply. According to the World Bank report, Bolivia has 842 cooperative miners and 500 small coal mines. Most of the small mines are concentrated in the barren Andean Plateau, and Potosí and Oruro, the famous mining areas in history, have now become the poorest areas.
In fact, in recent years, all mining investment has been concentrated on commercial output value. 198, the output of this sector increased by 6. 1%, accounting for 60% of Bolivia's total mining output, accounting for 56% of antimony, 84% of gold, 55% of silver, 78% of lead and 66% of zinc respectively, and about 4,000 workers were employed and paid.
The symbol of Bolivia's modern mining industry is the Inti Raymi (88% share of Battle Mountain Gold Mine) project in Korikolo, north of Oruro. 1998 the mine grinds 7.7 million tons, the gold grade is 2.23 g/ton (0.065 oz/ton), the recovered gold is 336,000 ounces, and the silver is 968,000 ounces. 1998, the gold price was $307/oz, while 1997, the gold price was $322/oz. As the price of gold dropped to $250 between 199 1, some development activities have been postponed.
The second important development project is located in Sancristobal, a high and barren county in the southeast of uyuni and the south of Potosi. Since 1994, Apex Silver Company has been trying to acquire properties including the ancient todos mine. Because of the extremely important silver, zinc and lead deposits discovered here and the potential of large-scale open-pit mining, it is expected that this will restore Bolivia's position in the world silver market.
1998, Golden Eagle International announced the discovery of important gold in Kangali (south of La Paz), with a reserve of 6.4 million ounces. The feasibility study of Don Mario gold and copper mine, another important mining area, has been completed. The mine adopts the combination of underground mining and open-pit mining, and it is expected to recover 90% gold by cyanidation.
Almost every river originating in La Paz province has the metallogenic conditions of placer gold, and many private or small companies are looking for gold in this area. It is reported that there are nearly 400 mining cooperatives mainly engaged in sand mining registered in Bolivian mining companies. In addition, there are sands on the Bolivian side of the Madeira River bordering Bolivia and Brazil, as well as in some rivers in Santa Cruz and Beni provinces. Bolivia also has a certain scale of rock gold mining. However, due to limited capacity, Bolivia cannot prove its gold reserves, let alone control its gold production, and a large amount of gold has been smuggled out of the country or illegally taken away by other countries (such as Brazil). Gold miners make more use of foreign capital and technology, and adopt the method of concealing property and dividing it up, which greatly damages the national resources.