ANTIC: Priority – to open new mines

Minister of Mining and Energy Aleksandar Antic stated on Sunday, August 6, 2017, that the ministry was creating conditions for the development of mining activities by enabling private companies to carry out explorations and open new mines.

He said for TV Pink that the ministry had made a big step forward together with mining companies and that there were mining activities in 250 exploitation fields in Serbia, whereas explorations were being conducted on 130 exploitation fields.

– The priority is to open new mines. We are very close to opening considerable mining potentials in Serbia, primarily in western Serbia and the exploration fields of Rio Tinto in Loznica. Once the exploitation starts, it will secure the production of lithium for over 10% of the total global consumption – Antic said.

He pointed out that the Government of Serbia had made considerable progress in enhancing the working conditions in the mining sector and that a step forward had also been made regarding EPS, Resavica and RTB Bor with the Bor and Majdanpek mines.

– Furthermore, the field of private mining has been developed. Mining is becoming an area of accelerated development in Serbia and the field where we are likely, almost certain, to realize a growth of the GDP in the upcoming years, by opening new mines and implementing the latest technologies – the minister pointed out.

He said that the production of energy sources was on the highest level and the the situation regarding energy sources was absolutely stable and he also announced new investments and the modernization of mines.

– These days, we produce nearly 100,000 tons of coal a day in Kolubara, which meets the maximum needs in winter days, so the production of energy sources is on the highest level, the energy situation is stable, which is the result of modernization processes, and we also have new investments and modernization plans ahead of us – he said.

The minister wished a happy Miners Day, August 6, to all miners on behalf of the Government of Serbia and said that they were great people, doing one of the hardest jobs there is.

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Akcionarsko društvo Elektroprivreda Srbije Beograd

Rio Sava Exploration d.o.o. Beograd

Rio Tinto plc London

Serbia Zijin Copper doo Bor

Ministry of Mining and Energy

Aleksandar Antic

private mining

exploitation fields

Rio Tinto

EPS

Resavica

RTB Bor

Bor mine

Majdanpek mine

Kolubara mine

lithium