BNamericas reported that Bolivia's national mining cooperative federation (Fencomin) and the government have reached an agreement to end the road blockade that cooperative miners set up more than 2 weeks ago.

The cooperative members wanted the government to uphold decree 1337, which gives 75% of the Rosario vein at the Colquiri zinc and tin mine to the 26 de Febrero cooperative. The mining cooperatives were blocking the road connecting La Paz and Oruro departments in support of the 26 de Febrero cooperative.

Fencomin leader said that the most important point of the agreement is that the government guaranteed the return of Colquiri mine to the cooperatives. However, a deadline of September 18 has been set to resolve other demands regarding the use of ambulances the writing off of debts and an asphalt paved road.

According to the local press, losses of nearly USD 200.000 per day were being generated at the mine because of the blockade. Salaried miners however were calling for the entire Colquiri deposit to be handed over to Bolivian state miner.

The protest was a continuation of the dispute which prompted the government to terminate the lease and JV it had with Sinchi Wayra, a subsidiary of the Swiss company Glencore International for Colquiri.

Source - Business News Americas

(www.steelguru.com)