Sasa lead and zinc mine located in the town of Makedonska Kamenica in northeast Macedonia marks Friday the 10^th anniversary after restarting operations.

Attending the ceremony, caretaker PM Emil Dimitriev said Sasa mine was one of the biggest lead-zinc mines in Europe commending it for being an example of successful company management in Macedonia and in the region.

“Sasa investors, by taking the right approach investing in equipment, improving work conditions, raising the safety level and the salaries of miners, have written a story of success in the Republic of Macedonia,” stated Dimitriev.

Mining as a branch, he added, is of paramount importance for the government because it affects the country’s economic development and its GDP.

Welcoming the resumption of the mine concession, the Premier said more jobs would be opened and the concession would be expanded. “Jobs will be created in Sasa for over 700 people and yet another 150 people will be hired indirectly.”

According to Dimitriev, the government has concluded deals for geological excavations with nearly 300 companies and 200 permits for exploitation have been already issued.

“There’s an inexhaustible potential which is going to be focused on enabling growth and development in Macedonia,” he noted saying efforts would be made to further reduce the unemployment rate in the country, which currently stands at a ‘historic low’ of 24.5%.

Furthermore, Dimitriev said ‘bright future’ was ahead for the mining sector in Macedonia.

Thanking the staff for their support and hard work, Sasa CEO Alexander Prokhorov said more investments as well as new technologies would be introduced in the mine. “The company will keep on making efforts to increase the level of safety of the workforce,” he pledged also thanking the government and the local self-government for creating a favorable business climate.