Indonesia had recorded production of 71,694 t of tin-in-concentrate in 2003 compared to 79,765 t in 2002. The two leading producers are PT Timah Tbk and PT Koba Tin, which operate on Bangka Island.
In 2003, PT Timah’s total tin-in-concentrate output reached 43,948 t, of which 35,394 t was produced from inland reserves (gravel-pump operations) and 8,554 t (13,531 t in 2002) was sourced from dredge operations. Tin-metal production from PT Timah’s Mentok smelter was 45,905 t, a 5% increase on 2002 (43,528 t).
PT Koba Tin is 25% owned by PT Timah and 75% by Malaysia Smelting Corp. (which purchased all of Iluka Mining’s shares in PT Koba Tin in 2001),PT Koba Tin’s tin-in-concentrate production for 2003 was 27,746 t. PT Koba Tin reported tin-metal production of 20,378 t in 2003.
The decline in inland tin-concentrate production in the counttry was attributed to increased competition from artisanal miners operating in PT Timah’s official working areas. There has also been an increase in small-scale tin smelters which are proliferating on Bangka Island.
