Business News Americas reported in early December that the Bolivian government has equipped the armed forces with barges to help export iron ore from Santa Cruz department's El Mutún deposit.

A sector executive told BNamericas “There is a decree under which the armed forces will undertake 30% of transport so they can help export the iron ore via the Paraguay Paraná waterway to the Atlantic ocean.”

The government gave the armed forces two trawlers and 16 barges that can move up to 2,500 tonnes.

However, some infrastructure works still need to be completed, according to the executive, and they need to organize return cargo so they are not just exporting but also importing.

Iron ore exports from El Mutún are currently suspended due to the low level of the Paraguay River and will not resume until next year.

At the beginning of October, state steel company ESM sent the first 10,000 tonnes of iron ore to Paraguayan steelmaker Acepar as part of a USD 6 million sales contract for 140,000 tonnes.

(Sourced from Business News Americas)