Production at Zletovo lead and zinc mine in Probishtip was restarted on Sunday. After months-long preparations, the Bulgarian concessioner Minstroy received today a work permit as the first amount of ore was being extracted from the mine. The process was launched on Macedonia’s Miners’ Day.

The Bulgarian company Minstroy, which was also awarded concession for Toranica mine, has invested 20 million euros. At the moment, 300 workers are hired to work in the mine with their number to rise up to 1,000. Minstroy is a private company since 1998, which employs up to 3,000 people, including 1,500 miners.

The restart of one of the oldest mines in the country was officially marked Sunday by Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev, Deputy PM for economic affairs Vladimir Pesevski, Economy Minister Driton Kuchi, Bulgaria’s Minister of Energy Temenuzhka Petrova, chairman of the Minstroy Board of Directors Nikolay Volkanov. VMRO-DPMNE leader Nikola Gruevski was also in attendance.

Speaking at the ceremony, PM Dimitriev said he expected the new concessioner to provide modern technology, safe work conditions for the miners and better salaries.

“It’s irrelevant how much ore will be extracted, it is important every miner to leave the mine safe and sound,” noted Dimitriev.

Efforts made by the government in the energy sector, he added, are producing results. In addition to the restart of Zletovo mine, this week marked the construction of a mining complex in Kazandol. The Canadian company Euromax is active in Ilovica with an investment of EUR 500 million. Toranica mine is also expected to be restarted in October.

Deputy PM Pesevski said the siting government recognized the importance of the mining sector by implementing many reforms to improve it. “These efforts between 2006 and 2016 have resulted in 370 concession contracts for geological excavation and 325 concession contracts for exploitation,” he stated.

Handing over the work permit to Bulgaria’s Minstroy, Minister of Economy Kuchi said mining, ‘a driving force in Macedonia’s economy’, participates with 1.5% in the GDP and employs 13,000 people. He said that over 150 mines were active throughout the country.

Bulgarian Minister Petkova said Minstroy’s EUR 20-million investment would contribute to improving Macedonia’s economic development and to opening 1,000 new jobs.

Furthermore, Economy Minister Kuchi marking Miners’ Day presented certificates to 15 of the best miners in Macedonia. According to him, the goal is to honor the miners for their professionalism and responsibility and to motivate others to deliver top results.

The beginning of the Zletovo lead and zinc mine could be traced back to the 2^nd century AD. A British company had won concession of the mine in 1928. During WWII the mine was exploited by the German army. Production at the mine had reached its peak in 1977 when it employed 2,600 people. The highest volume of production was recorded in 1989 – 500,000 tons of lead and zinc ore. The Zletovo mine was shut down in the 1990s during the transition period.