The city of Bol in eastern Serbia was prosperous in copper. Since a copper mine began in 1903, Bol, as a typical resource-based city, has embarked on a path of rapid development, dependent on rich mineral resources. Bol also suffered from copper. Due to delayed updating of technical equipment and lack of management, the Boer Copper Mine was on the verge of bankruptcy, and serious environmental debt once cast a long-lasting shadow on the city.
In December 2018, in accordance with the strategic cooperation agreement signed with the Serbian government, China Zijin Mining Group took over the Boer copper mine, which caused earthquake changes in the copper mine in just a few months. Serbian President Vucic said Zijin Mining had reborn a 100-year-old mine in Serbia. “This is a model for Chinese companies investing in Serbia. I want to express my respect and gratitude in the most beautiful language!”
Make a loss in half a year and add profit for development
Right now, inland in the Balkan Peninsula, the Boer copper mine is very hot, the production workshop is roaring and the machine is roaring, and more than 5,500 Chinese and Serbian employees are fighting together for their posts. On May 18, 2020, when a copper mine that had been in shock for more than two years was successfully “activated” by Zijin Mining, four copper mines and a smelter under the Boer Copper Project were fully operational.
Mining is an important pillar industry in Serbia’s economy. Bol Copper Mine is the only large copper mine in production in Serbia and one of Serbia’s largest enterprises. “Due to the increasing difficulty of mining, backlog of production technology and equipment, the production capacity of copper mines is severely limited. In addition, the degree of mining is low and management is not in place, and the company is facing a serious situation with operational difficulties.” 22 years of work in Boer Copper Mine Blanislav Tomic recalled the mine manager.
Having taken over the Boer Copper Mine, Zijin Mining has strongly promoted technological innovation, controlled the management of various production compounds, reduced the degree of ore dilution and mining, and increased the recovery rate for mineral processing and smelting; At the same time, it acquired advanced technology and equipment to promote information technology, automation, Intelligent transformation has improved production efficiency and reduced production and operating costs. Production and Operations Director Yuvica Redisavljevic said that within 6 years of the completion of the project, Zijin Mining will implement comprehensive technological transformation and expansion of all mines and smelters to achieve real economies of scale.
“It took only three months for Chinese companies to gradually improve the production and operating indicators of the Boer Copper Mine. It made a loss within six months of the acquisition, and the company’s profits have increased several times in the last two years.” Said Redisavlevich with emotion. Tao.
Three months after Zijin Mining took over the Boer Copper Mine, President Vucic visited the project site and was shocked by the huge changes in such a short time: “Chinese companies brought a respectable professional team to save this company from bankruptcy. The state-owned enterprises in the Boer Copper Mine has rapidly improved production and operations and become the driving force behind economic development in Eastern Serbia. “
Control the environment——
Also set up an ecological model with green water and green mountains
Only mountains, gray factory areas and workers with gray and black faces were once common scenes for residents around mining companies. Dust in the sky, no sky, mud in the water, that was the impression Boll left on people. In the face of serious ecological and environmental debt, Zijin Mining made great efforts to deal with it.
“Chinese companies have taken advanced environmental protection concepts and organized ourselves to implement a series of ecological environmental mitigation and comprehensive environmental management projects.” According to Miana Maric, head of the department for environment and environmental protection, the comprehensive management project has now completed all cut-off dams and exposed areas. For greening of mining slopes and the slopes of some abandoned dumps, 61,300 seedlings were planted, and 349,000 square meters of green space were recently added, and the appearance of the areas for mining plants was completely new. The company has also taken several measures in the treatment of dust, solid waste, wastewater and exhaust gas, with remarkable results. Reinforcement of old drainage culverts and construction of new flood drainage systems are currently underway. At the end of December 2020, investments in environmental protection reached USD 76.58 million.
“I really did not expect the mining area to be so beautiful.” Said Rajokovic, a citizen of Bol. Earlier, when the strong wind came, dust and air pollution in the slope of the drainage pond seriously affected the quality of life of the surrounding residents. Today, the vegetation on the side slope of the drainage pond has been restored and the green area has “established a new model for green mines.”
In an interview with journalists, Ivona Rajvac, director of the “Belt and Road” Regional Research Center at the Serbian Institute of International Political Economy, said: “Chinese companies have adopted the concept of green development throughout the process of developing and exploiting mineral resources. and the social benefits of developing copper resources are coordinated and unified, and it has also played a demonstrative role in the development of local mining and the green production of enterprises.Chinese companies have revitalized “Golden Mountain and Silver Mountain” for Boer, and also provided the inhabitants a green Water and green mountains. “
Job creation——
The city thrives and life gets better and better
The Bol copper mine is the backbone of the local economy. The previous years of losses have led to insufficient urban economic vitality, and many young people cannot find work. With Zijin Mining taking over the Boer copper mine and investing in the Chukalupeji copper gold mine, local employment is secured. At the end of December 2020, there are 5,451 Serbian employees in the two projects. After the Chukalupeji copper gold mine project is completed and put into operation in 2021, it will create about 1,200 new jobs.
“The arrival of Chinese companies has changed the life of the family. With the birth of the Bol Copper Mine and the development of the Chukalupeji Copper Mine, our towns and villages have been revived and more and more young people are returning to work in their hometowns. The city is flourishing and our lives are improving and better. “Said Dragan Todolovich, a citizen of Bol.
“Two years ago, the average monthly net income of employees was only 68,160 dinars (about 4,610 yuan). Now it has generally increased by more than 1/3, which is much higher than the national average wage level.” Lovech is satisfied with its work in the Bol copper mine.
Zijin Mining also proactively fulfills its social responsibilities, strongly supports the development of local medical and health, education, culture, sports and infrastructure construction, and donated a complete set of equipment to the second “Fire Eye” virus testing laboratory in Serbia. Zijin Mining has also led more than 30 Chinese-related mining companies to invest and develop in Serbia, providing opportunities for business cooperation for nearly one hundred companies in Serbia, and further promoting economic development in Serbia and the employment of the people.
Former Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Alexandar Antić said: “Chinese companies have saved the jobs of more than 5,000 people, greatly increased their employees’ incomes and actively participated in charity and public welfare. The Serbian government’s choice is right.”
Original title: To turn a loss into a profit in half a year, China invests in revitalization of a hundred-year-old mine in Serbia Source: People’s Daily