A senior government official revealed in an interview that the Mexican mining group may restart the San Martin mine in early 2019, the largest underground mine in Mexico, which was discontinued more than a decade ago due to strikes by workers.
Carlos Barcena, Minister of Economy of Zacatecas, where the mine is located, said that the Mexican mining group has started mine repair work and is expected to be completed and put into production in the first quarter of 2019.
A company insider familiar with the situation confirmed the plan but was not allowed to be interviewed. The company spokesperson declined to comment.
The San Martin mine was discontinued in July 2007 due to labor conflicts with the National Miners Union (SNTMMSRM) under Napoleon Gomez, and Napoleon Gomez is currently serving as a senator. Before the shutdown, the mine produced about 8,000 tons of copper and 19,000 tons of zinc in 2005.
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Earlier this year, a group of workers who participated in the strike agreed to change their demands by the National Union of Independent Alliances in order to resolve the protracted conflict. Last week, at the request of the workers of the National Union of Independent Alliances, the government responsible for resolving labor disputes decided to end the strike.
But last Thursday, a spokesperson for the National Miners Union (SNTMMSRM) said that the real miners are still on strike and the coalition will file a lawsuit on the decision to end the strike.
Monex analysts said the project restarted to increase the Mexican mining group’s annual sales by 1%.