SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO solved the century-old problem of air pollution in Bor

Mr. Qiu Guozhu:  The Project of technical reconstruction, expansion and construction of TIR Plant is of exceptional importance in the partnership between the Republic of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China, and represents the deep commitment of both nations in fostering strong bilateral relations, stated the General Manager of SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO and added that the Company recently received a certificate from the competent ministry on putting the reconstructed and new metallurgical facilities into trial operation. – It was incomprehensible to me that the problem of air pollution could not be resolved in Bor for more than 100 years, therefore I did a bit of research and came across interesting historical facts that, unfortunately, confirmed this, said Mr. Qiu Guozhu – It is our obligation to provide residents with a healthy environment by applying world standards and modern technologies in business operation and develop mining for the benefit of the whole society, he stressed.

SZC –Thanks to the most modern technology, a desulphurization plant, powerful filters, a closed process and all other equipment that the Project of technical reconstruction, expansion and construction of the Smelter and Refinery Plant brought to Bor, SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO solved the century-old problem of air pollution in Bor. The concentration of sulphur dioxide no longer exceeds 50 micrograms per cubic meter of air, and in the industrial city, which until recently was one of the blackest ecological spots in this part of Europe, there is finally no more colourless gas with a suffocating smell.

An entire century in smelting gasses



The year 1906 is mentioned in professional literature as the year when the first Smelter Plant was opened in Bor. Even then, an area of six hectares was chosen for the location, in the immediate vicinity of the Mine, on the slopes of Čoka Dulkan. It was 1.1 km away from the Hoist Shaft. Between the Hoist Shaft and the Smelter Plant, there was a Roasting Plant where the ore was treated (roasted) in the open air. After that, the ore was put into the water-jacket furnaces together with the fluxes. Due to the open-air roasting of ore, 1906 was marked in the literature as the year when air pollution began in Bor. In the same year, “Politika” published an article in which “gentlemen are advised to temporarily leave Bor, as poisonous gases are expected from the Smelter Plant”. As soon as production commenced, air pollution immediately arose, since all metallurgical waste gases were fully emitted into the atmosphere. Depending on the type of the feed, the metallurgical recovery of copper ranged from 89 to 93 percent, which is low, while 97 to 98 percent of sulphur in the form of diluted SO2 gases was emitted from the stacks directly into the environment. According to data on the company’s operations, published in the “Mining Gazette” in 1910, the Bor Mine smelted copper whose value exceeded half of the total mining production in Serbia. In the books, it is also written “that it can be said without exaggeration that the operation of the Smelter Plant was disastrous for the environment and the health of the people in Bor, as the French built the workers’ settlement and the core of the town right next to the Mine and the Smelter Plant, to save on transport.” In 1935, such difficult situation caused a huge revolt of the population, especially peasants from the surrounding villages, known as the “Vlach Uprising”. Unfortunately, the government at the time, apart from some compensation to the property owners, did not condition the French concessionaire of the Bor Mine, as a polluter, to introduce appropriate facilities and reduce pollution. The total emission of all smelter gases lasted until the middle of 1961, i.e. a full 55 years, until the commissioning of newly built Smelter Plant and Turm’s Sulphuric Acid Plant.

The project of technical reconstruction, expansion and construction of the TIR Plant is of exceptional importance in the partnership between the Republic of Serbia and the People’s Republic of China, and represents the deep commitment of both nations in fostering strong bilateral relations. Project implementation lasted two and a half years and 320 million dollars were invested in it. Out of the said amount, SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO invested 100 million dollars in environmental protection systems alone. In addition to multiple benefits for the Company, having in mind that from next year we will be able to produce 180,000 tonnes of cathode copper annually, the reconstructed Smelter Plant will also provide what the citizens of Bor have been missing for a whole century – better air quality and better working conditions – The General Manager  of SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO stated and added that the Company recently received a certificate from the competent ministry on putting the reconstructed and new metallurgical facilities into trial operation.

Mr. Guodzu also reminded that SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO invested 30 million dollars in the construction of the flue gas treatment system in 2021 alone, and that the desulphurization plant immediately proved to be extremely efficient, since already the same year the emission of sulphur dioxide was reduced by over 90 percent.

– I think that, with the reindustrialization of mining and metallurgical capacities in Bor, we have shown a clear intention to invest in the development and future of not only Bor, Majdanpek and the Bor District, but the whole of eastern Serbia. Our aim is for Bor to become a green, low-carbon and sustainable base of non-ferrous metals, not only in Serbia, but also in Europe. That is why, although Zijin Mining Group committed to investing 1.26 billion dollars in the next six years in the Strategic Partnership Agreement signed with the Government of the Republic of Serbia in 2018, we have realized investments in the amount of 2 billion and 283 million dollars in five years – emphasized the General Manager of SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO.

The reconstructed Smelter, he added, will use clean natural gas instead of heavy fuel oil, coal and other highly polluting fuels, and the concentration of powdery substances will not exceed five milligrams per normal cubic meter, which is in accordance with the environmental standards of the European Union. In addition, industrial wastewater will be treated and reused in production, and the total carbon emission will be reduced to 0.62 tonnes of carbon dioxide per tonne of cathode copper produced. At the same time, the energy consumption index will be reduced to 193.5 kilograms of standard coal per tonne of cathode, by which the international standard will be reached.

Although faced with many challenges, we believe that the future will bring progress to all of us in every sense and that by following new technologies, together with hard-working people, we will improve every segment of our business operation. It is our obligation to provide the residents with a healthy environment by applying world standards and modern technologies in business and develop mining for the benefit of the whole society. For example, it was incomprehensible to me personally that the problem of air pollution could not be resolved in Bor for more than 100 years. I did a little research and in the monograph describing the first century of extractive metallurgy in Bor, from 1906 to 2006, I came across interesting historical facts that, unfortunately, confirmed the claim – Mr. Qiu Guozhu said.

In light of the monumental importance of this undertaking, as major projects also come with a great responsibility towards the local community, the management of SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO invited (on September 21) the socio-political representatives of Bor and Majdanpek to visit the new and reconstructed Smelter and Refinery facilities, now completely ready to operate at full capacity.

Since taking ownership of the former RTB Bor as of August 2023, SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO produced 326,300 tonnes of copper in concentrate and 8,992 kilograms of gold. The Company’s resource reserves amount to nine million 90 thousand tonnes of copper in the ore, with an average grade of 0.392 percent of metal per tonne, and 350 tonnes of gold in the ore, with an average grade of 0.151 grams per tonne.

SERBIA ZIJIN COPPER DOO paid 421 million US dollars in the name of various taxes and fees and as of August 2023 made a cumulative contribution to the social community in Serbia of 787 million dollars. That is why the Company ranks among the business entities with highest payments on the basis of taxes and fees. The Company made 185 donations and invested 4.5 million US dollars in the improvement of health care, transport infrastructure, education, sports, traditional art and children entertainment.