Comibol, Danes pump US$654,000 into Tatasi

Bolivia's state mining corporation Comibol and the Danish environmental cooperation program, PCDSMA, invested US$654,000 in an environmental remediation initiative in the Tatasi area of the southwestern Bolivian department of Potosi, local newspapers said. In Tatasi, the mining company of the same name has been operating silver and zinc mines since 1992 and the operations are considered to be contaminating local watercourses. The 110 cooperative members jointly manage and operate the mines under Comibol supervision. The investment will cover the remediation of the dike surrounding the Tatasi tailings dump to overcome the serious threat to the local environment and to reduce pollution of the Pilcomayo River. Another objective is to avoid pollution of tributaries feeding the Pilcomayo River. The mining and hydrocarbons minister, Jorge Berindoague officially opened the project, which within five years is expected improve the quality of deteriorated soils due to mining residues.