BNAmericas quoted a Sintrabauxilum union leader as saying that Bauxite production at the Los Pijiguaos mine that belongs to Venezuelan state alumina producer Bauxilum fell by 60% in January.

The union official said that under normal conditions the mine produces 16,000 tonne per day to 17,000 tonnes per day but current output is around 6,000 tonne per day to 7,000 tonne per day.

The union representative said that there are no spare parts and only one machine is actually operating, creating a threat to the entire aluminum production chain. Bauxilum, which normally produces around 6 million tonne per year of bauxite, has not set any production goals for the year.

Infrastructure for mining and processing Los Pijiguaos' bauxite includes a crushing mill, 4.5 kilometers conveyor belt, 52 kilometers railroad and a control center. Bauxilum also operates 2 million tonnes per year alumina plant in Guayana region's Puerto Ordaz city.

(Sourced from Business News Americas)