Canada & Serbia gov representatives expect from Nevsun to enable environment friendly new copper mine

New Ambassador of Canada in Serbia Kati Chaba visited today the Mining and Smelting Basin Bor, where the financing of the new smelter and sulfuric acid factory was provided by the Canadian EDC Bank, and the plants were built by Canadian SNC Lavalin. In addition, in the vicinity of Bor, Canadian “Nevsun”, in cooperation with daughter-company “Rakita”, is intensively carrying out mining research, so Bor gets a new copper mine.

In a conversation with the management of RTB, we talked about the opening of the new mine in Bor, so I can say that it is in the interest of “Rakita” to pass it using the highest environmental standards and then the social components. “Rakita” will take care and everything that works will be for the benefit of the local population, the entire region, in cooperation with the city and RTB Bor, said Ambassador of Canada Kati Chaba.

She said that more than 50 Canadian companies are operating in Serbia, and therefore, it is one of the priorities to inform Canadian businessmen about the economic situation in Serbia and the possibilities for investing.

According to her, the economy of Canada relies heavily on mining and therefore the development of this branch of industry is a great potential for wider cooperation with Serbia and Bor.

I am proud that the Canadian SNC Lavalin has participated in the construction of a new smelter and a sulfuric acid factory and that the application of our technology has contributed to the development of the industry in this part of Serbia. The result of our joint venture is clean air in Bor and this illustrates in the best possible way how the Canadian company has done the job, said the Ambassador of Canada.

Asked to comment on the interest of Canadian companies in RTB Bor privatization, she said that the interest was high, but that it was necessary to wait and see which model of privatization Serbia would offer.

“Canadian companies want to participate and their interest is high,” said Chaba.

Confirming that the opening of a new mine is an important respect for the highest environmenal standards and everything else that the rules of the service require when it comes to that, RT Blagoje Spaskovski, General Manager of the RTB, emphasized that the villagers of the surrounding villages – Brestovac, Slatina and Metovnica – must not worry that the new “Rakita” or “Nevsun” mine will be a pollutant.

“We will all work together, and the embassy will be the mediator and the supervisor to keep everything in line with world norms, and nothing should endanger it and turn it into an area like is in Krivelj.” We made a mess there, both us, and the ones before us. It cannot be repeated in these three villages. We will negotiate where the entrances will be and where it goes – where it is environmentaly correct, the most rational and the most economical. “Ecology must be above the economy,” Spaskovski said.

Spaskovski and Chaba also discussed that, as in the case of the construction of a new smelter and a sulfuric acid factory in Bor, some jobs should be entrusted to local companies when opening the mine.

“There should be a local component and that, under identical conditions, it is advantageous to domestic companies. We have qualified teams that carry out drilling and mining works, build roads in the white world, work according to world norms and should get priority”, said Spaskovski.

After the talks with the management of RTB Bor, the Ambassador of Canada visited the new smelter and the sulfuric acid factory, and visited the cave “Café”.

In the book of impressions she wrote that she was very impressed with the professionalism of the employees and the fact that RTB Bor is taking care of the environment, people living in Bor and all those who work for RTB.

She particularly emphasized the company’s contribution in the field of environmental protection and the elimination of air pollution.