Ms. Đedović: Serbia is a very important strategic partner for Zijin

During her visit to the “Zijinshan” Smelter and Mine in Shanghang, the Minister of Mining and Energy expressed her satisfaction that the strategic partner is transferring green technologies applied in China to Serbia. – We can see a lot of greened and reclaimed areas, and the hosts told us that they plan to do the same in Serbia. We have seen the solar power plants and we are satisfied with the fact that they are transferring their technology to us and that, by building a solar power plant in Bor, they want to complete the process of the mine’s sustainability. In general, the entire technological process is extremely well developed here, said Ms. Dubravka Đedović. – Over the past four years, Zijin’s investment in Serbia has proven to be successful, because after our arrival, a lot has changed in Bor – the air and water are cleaner, and the residents have also felt other benefits and are happy because of a better living environment, the General Manager of SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO BOR said and announced that the company plans to double copper production in the next four years.

SHANGHANG – The Minister of Mining and Energy, Ms. Dubravka Đedović Handanović, visited (on September 10) the “Zijinshan” Smelter and Mine in Shanghang, owned by Zijin Mining Group.

She pointed out that Serbia is an important strategic partner of Zijin, as indicated by the memoranda worth four billion dollars, signed the day before at the Serbian Investment Forum in Xiamen.

The Open Pit we had the opportunity to see was declared the first green mine in China. We can see a lot of greened and reclaimed areas, and the hosts told us that they plan to do the same in Serbia. We have seen the solar power plants and we are satisfied with the fact that they are transferring their technology to us and that, by building a solar power plant in Bor, they want to complete the process of the mine’s sustainability. In geeral, the entire technological process is extremely well developed here – said the Minister, who then planted a tree of friendship with Zijin Mining Group officials.

 

“Zijinshan” is only one of 23 mines owned by Zijin Mining Group, which is the sixth in the world in terms of copper production, and in China it is recognized as a green mine with a comprehensive recovery of mineral resources. The goal of “Zijinshan” is a circular economy, without waste and neutralization of carbon dioxide emissions by 2050. Zijin Mining Group’s investments in infrastructure for environmental protection make up 20 percent of the total investments in this mine. At the same time, an R&D centre for technology improvement was established, which has 117 patents.

– The size of the mine is very impressive and I can say that it looks a lot like what we have in Bor, so you can see that they had a good model. The mine has existed for 30 years, employs four thousand employees and produces about 86,000 tonnes of copper. From next year, we will produce 180,000 tonnes of copper in Bor, or twice as much, which speaks of the potential that Serbia and our mines have – Ms. Đedović Handanović pointed out.

After visiting the mine, the Minister also visited the Smelter Plant in Shanghang, where 400,000 tonnes of cathode copper are produced annually.

– I saw that they have a Water Treatment Plant. The same plant was also completed in Bor, as well as the new Smelter Plant and Desulphurization Plant. From a technological point of view, with these facilities and the gas station, we closed the cycle in Bor Smelter Plant, and with the construction of the new solar power plant, the share of fossil fuels in production will be significantly optimized and reduced. This is also the goal, considering the high consumption that the mine has. They told us that they designed and built the solar power plant here themselves, as well as that they also produce solar panels within the Group. Everything is in one place in a company able to build all needed for the energy stability of the country and use green energy in production, in Serbia as well. Serbia is a very important partner of Zijin Mining Group and we are absolutely satisfied that they are transferring their technology to us. We hope that it will continue to improve – said the Minister of Mining and Energy.

The General Manager of SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO BOR, Mr. Qiu Guozhu, in a statement to the media, said that the company has been operating successfully for the past four years and that after Zijin’s arrival in Bor, a lot was invested in environmental protection.

– The strategic partnership between Serbia and China is very fruitful and I hope it will remain so in the future. In the past four years, Zijin’s investment in Serbia has proven to be successful, because after our arrival, many things have changed in Bor – the air and water are cleaner, and the residents have felt other benefits and are happy because of a better living environment – Mr. Qiu Guozhu said and announced that SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO BOR plans to double copper production in the next four years.