The eastern Serbian city of Bohr is prosperous for copper. As a typical resource-based city, Boer has embarked on a rapid development road with rich mineral resources since it began to mince copper in 1903. Bohr also suffered from copper.
Due to the lagging technical equipment update and lack of management, the Bohr Copper Mine was once on the verge of bankruptcy, and serious environmental arrears had a lingering shadow on the city.
In December 2018, according to the strategic cooperation agreement signed with the Serbian government, China Purple Gold Mining Group took over the Boer copper mine, which changed dramatically in just a few months.
Serbian President Vučić said that Zijin Mining has “reborn” Serbia’s century-old mines. “This is a model for Chinese enterprises to invest in Serbia. I want to express my respect and gratitude in the most beautiful language!”
Turn a loss into a profit in half a year and inject development momentum
At present, the hinterland of the Balkans is ice and snowy, but the Boer copper mine is hot. The production workshop is roaring with motors and the sound of machines, and more than 5,500 Chinese and Serbian employees are fighting together in their posts.
On May 18, 2020, with a copper mine that has been “shocked” for more than two years and successfully “activated” by Zijin Mining, four copper mines and one smelter under the Boer copper mine project were fully opened.
Mining is an important pillar industry of Serbia’s economy. Boer copper mine is the only large-scale copper mine in Serbia and one of the largest industrial enterprises in Serbia.” Because mining is more difficult and production technology and equipment are lagging in updating, copper minerals can be greatly limited.
Coupled with the low grade of the mine and inadequate management, the enterprise is facing a severe situation of difficult operation. “The mine chief Branislav Tomicy, who has worked at the Bohr copper mine for 22 years, recalls.
After Zijin Mining took over Boer Copper Mine, it vigorously promoted technological innovation, strengthened the management of various production links, reduced ore dilution rate and mining loss rate, and improved beneficiation and smelting recovery rate.
At the same time, it purchased advanced technical equipment to transform to informatization, automation and intelligence, greatly improved production efficiency and reduced production and operation costs. .
Yuvica Redisavlevich, director of production and operation, said that within six years from the delivery of the project, Zijin Mining will carry out comprehensive technical transformation and expansion of mines and smelters to achieve real economies of scale.
“In just three months, Chinese enterprises have gradually improved the production and operation indicators of Boer Copper Mine.
Within half a year of acquisition, the loss turned into a profit, and the profit of the enterprise has doubled in the past two years.” Redisavlevich sighed.
Three months after Zijin Mining took over the Boer Copper Mine, President Vučić went to the project site to investigate and was shocked by the huge changes in such a short period of time: “Chinese enterprises have brought respectable professional teams to save this state-owned enterprise on the verge of bankruptcy, so that the production and operation of Boer Copper Mine have been rapidly and better, and it has become the economic development of eastern Serbia. Drive.
Set up an ecological model with green water and green mountains
Naked mountains, gray factory areas, and gray and black workers were once common scenes for residents around mining enterprises.
The dust, the sunless, and mud in the water used to be the impression of Bohr. In the face of serious ecological environment arrears, Zijin Mining has made great efforts to deal with it.
“Chinese enterprises bring advanced environmental protection concepts and organize us to implement a series of ecological greening and comprehensive environmental management projects.” Miana Marić, manager of the Ministry of Ecology and Environmental Protection, said that the comprehensive treatment project has now completed the greening of all tailings reservoirs, dew mining slopes and some abandoned earth discharge slopes, planting 61,300 seedlings, and adding 349,000 square meters of greening areas, and a new look in the mining area.
The company has also taken many measures to control dust, solid waste, wastewater, waste gas and other aspects, with remarkable results. At present, the reinforcement of old drainage culverts and the construction of new drainage systems are under way. At the end of December 2020, the investment in environmental protection reached 76.58 million US dollars.
“I didn’t expect the mining area to become so beautiful.” Rajokovic, a citizen of Pohr, said that when the wind was strong, the slope of the tailings depot was dusty and the air was dirty, which seriously affected the quality of life of the surrounding residents.
Now the vegetation on the slope of the tailings reservoir has been restored and green, “setting a new model for green mines”.
Ivona Rajvac, director of the Belt and Road Initiative Regional Research Center of the Serbian Institute of International Political Economy, said in an interview with reporters: “Chinese enterprises have integrated the concept of green development throughout the whole process of mineral resources development and utilization, which not only realizes economic, ecological and social benefits of the development of Boer copper resources.
The benefit of coordination and unity also plays a demonstration role in the development of local mining cities and the green production of enterprises.
Chinese enterprises revitalized the “Golden Mountain and Silver Mountain” for Bohr, and also gave citizens a piece of green water and green mountains.
The city is booming. Life is getting better and better.
Boer copper mine is the mainstay of the local economy. Previous years of losses have led to the lack of vitality of the city economy, and many young people can’t find jobs.
With the Purple Gold Mining taking over the Boer Copper Mine and investing in the Chukarupeji Copper Gold Mine, local employment has been guaranteed.
By the end of December 2020, the number of Serbian employees of the two projects reached 5,451. After the Chukarupeji Copper Gold Mine Project was completed and put into operation in 2021, about 1,200 new jobs will be created.
“The arrival of Chinese enterprises has changed the life of our family.
With the ‘rebirth’ of the Pohl Copper Mine and the development of the Chukarupeji Copper Gold Mine, our cities and villages have come back to life, and more and more young people are returning to work in their hometowns.
The city is thriving, and our lives are getting better and better. Dragan Todolavich, a citizen of Pol, said.
“Two years ago, the average monthly net income of employees was only 68,160 dinars (about 4,610 yuan), and now it has generally increased by more than one third, which is far higher than the national average wage level.” Employee Igor Mišelovich is satisfied with his work at the Bohr Copper Mine.
Zijin Mining also actively fulfills its social responsibility, strongly supports the development of local health care, education, culture, sports and infrastructure construction, and donates a full set of equipment to Serbia’s second “Fire Eye” virus detection laboratory.
Zijin Mining has also driven more than 30 mining-related Chinese enterprises to invest and develop in Serbia, providing business cooperation opportunities for nearly 100 enterprises in Serbia, and further promoting the economic development of Serbia and people’s employment.
Alexandal Antic, former Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia, said: “Chinese enterprises have saved more than 5,000 jobs, greatly increased employee income, and actively participated in charity and public welfare. The Serbian government made the right choice.”
