Due to the project operating at a loss for the past two years,and therefore becoming economically non-viable, Miner Metals X says it will close the Collingwood Tin Mine by June this year.

Managing director Peter Cook says the company has already started to reduce its work force.

“About 30 per cent of the work force have been retrenched so far, and that’s 28 people of our total work force of just under 100,” he said.

“The remainder of the work force, except for a skeleton security crew and maintenance crew, about 10 people, will be retrenched as each phase of the operation winds down by the end of June.”