In the mining sector this year, the number of employees is seven percent higher than last year. The government estimates that strategic projects at RTB alone with the new Chukaru Peki and Jadar mine will bring in $ 3 billion in new investments. The World Bank also confirmed that Serbia has huge potential for growth in mining.
China’s Zidjin advances in construction of new Chukaru Peki mine. And for RTB development and contracted $ 1.26 billion in investments priority is ongoing investment in green facilities.
“The Zidjin investment is not only interesting for Bor but for the whole of Eastern Serbia. What is happening is that in the coming period the city budget will increase several times. In the next four to six years it is expected that it will increase almost three times.” ,says Aleksandar Milikic, Mayor of Bor.
And Western Serbia is counting on the Jadar project, which is being developed by the global giant Rio tinto in Loznica. The explorations are coming to an end in February, and through that investment, a processing plant is expected to be built along the mine.
Vojin Cokorilo, a mining professor, expects the mine to provide 90 percent of the required lithium for the European market, adding: “You know that the mine is a development factor around the world.”
Soon EPS opens a new surface mine “Radljevo”. Otherwise, mining and geological exploration are an expensive business. The state has no money for this, but in our country as many as 72 companies are exploring various ores and minerals, which brings benefits.
“We currently have 148 fields in Serbia, where a large number of exploration activities are being carried out. In 2018, more than $ 100 million has been invested in research alone. This is going in the direction that in the coming years it will open new mines, “says Energy Minister Aleksandar Antic.
The World Bank has confirmed, in its analysis, that Serbia’s mining is on the rise and can do more. And for that they recommend stronger cooperation between the private and public sectors.
“With the implementation of only two projects, ‘Chukaru Peki’ and ‘Jadar’, the share of mining in Serbia’s GDP can jump to five percent from the current two percent. The Serbian mining sector has huge potential for growth and job creation,” says Steven Ndegwa. representative of the World Bank in Serbia.
Sweden has a similar geological and mining potential in Europe. In addition to 16 active mines, they announce new projects.
Source: rts.rs
