I don't see a buy-out..... as I'm sure the last thing the Bolivans who make up COMIBOL want to do is..... do a deal with a 4th generation Bolivian (if in fact he's Bolivian) only to have him flip (or sell) the deal to a non-Bolivian foreign owned entity.
Like I said...... this deal is about TRUST, and about IMPROVING the living/working STANDARDS of Bolivians..... read the history of Cerro Rico, and you'll see they've been screwed harshly (over a million with their lives) by basically every foreign (and even domestic) entity for approx. the past 460 years when it comes to Cerro Rico.
In fact, foriegn companies have been trying to do deals for Cerro Rico in recent years, but the locals don't trust anyone, the locals would rather continue to work "as-is" than risk doing a deal with someone that has other than great or honorable intentions... Cerro Rico also holds great SPIRITUAL VALUE to the locals, it isn't a place you can just go in and start an open pit mine, its far to scared... this deal is also about RESPECT & HISTORY.
Also, my bet is; the Bolivian Govt. would rather have someone from the private sector cut a deal with COMIBOL, then the Bolivian Govt. or state entity could come in at arms length and provide financing, which creates less mngmt., costs, & risks, etc. for the Bolivian Govt. or entity.
I'm sure if COMIBOL even THOUGHT FOR A SECOND that the deal could be flipped or sold to someone they couldn't trust.... they'd probably cease negotiations with FMNJ immediately.
I know you want to see a deal done here.... as do I.... but sometimes you need to put PEOPLE FIRST, before the deal itself, in order to create a win-win.
That's just the way I see after conducting my research on Bolivia and Cerro Rico... and I don't think I'm far off the mark.
