Bolivia Looks to Seize Mines
The government in Bolivia may seize mines amongst protests for wage increases. The Bolivian president Evo Morales has already seized control of gas fields, oil refineries, pension funds and telecommunication companies since he came to power in January 2006.
More recently the government took over Glencore’s tin smelter in a bid to increase state control over the industries in the nation.
Now Coeur d’Alene Mines Corporation and Pan American Silver Corporation are likely to have their contracts revoked. There is talk of four mines run by Glencore affiliates having their concessions rescinded. With the mining unions asking the government to recover the silver, zinc, lead and tin mines being run at present by private companies the future of mining in Bolivia may be very different.
The Pan American spokeswoman Kettina Cordeo said that the company had not been notified of any action by the Bolivian government while the Glencore spokesman Simon Buerk declined to comment on the issue. The company spokesperson for Coeur, Tony Ebersole said that the surface mining and silver production at San Bartolome is underway as usual.
It seems ironical that the country which sent a delegation to the Prospector’s and Developer’s Conference (PDAC) in early March to lobby for more mining investment in the country is now looking at nationalizing most productive and profitable mines. Mining is the second largest source of export income in Bolivia.
Written by
Joel relocated to Australia in 1995 from the United Kingdom and spent five years working in the mining industry as an exploration geotechnician. His role involved utilizing GIS mapping and CAD software. Upon transitioning to the North Coast of NSW, Australia, Joel embarked on a career as a graphic designer at a well-known consultancy firm. Subsequently, he established a successful web services business catering to companies across the eastern seaboard of Australia. It was during this time that he conceived and launched News-Medical.Net. Joel has been an integral part of AZoNetwork since its inception in 2000. Joel possesses a keen interest in exploring the boundaries of technology, comprehending its potential impact on society, and actively engaging with AI-driven solutions and advancements.
Please use one of the following formats to cite this article in your essay, paper or report:
APA
Scanlon, Joel. (2019, March 19). Bolivia Looks to Seize Mines. AZoMining. Retrieved on February 05, 2026 from https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=3927.
MLA
Scanlon, Joel. "Bolivia Looks to Seize Mines". AZoMining. 05 February 2026. <https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=3927>.
Chicago
Scanlon, Joel. "Bolivia Looks to Seize Mines". AZoMining. https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=3927. (accessed February 05, 2026).
Harvard
Scanlon, Joel. 2019. Bolivia Looks to Seize Mines. AZoMining, viewed 05 February 2026, https://www.azomining.com/News.aspx?newsID=3927.
We're committed to providing free access to quality science. By registering and providing insight into
your preferences you're joining a community of over 1m science interested individuals and help us to
provide you with insightful content whilst keeping our service free.
or
Terms
While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena
answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses.
Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or
authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for
medical information you must always consult a medical
professional before acting on any information provided.
Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with
OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their
privacy principles.
Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential
information.
Read the full Terms & Conditions.