Minister of Environment and Physical Planning Abdilaqim Ademi upholds PM Nikola Gruevski's proposal presented to the owner of the Veles lead and zinc smelter, "Metrudhem" company, on finding an alternative location since Veles inhabitants have been fearing that smelter's re-launch will pollute the environment.

Ademi in an interview with MIA said the procedure to evaluate the smelter's consequences required other options to be reviewed.

"One of these options involves finding an alternative location. Regardless of the site, the installation must meet standards guaranteeing minimal emissions into the environment and preserving citizens' health," Minister Ademi noted.

To obtain an ecological permit, he stated that a long-running procedure would take place that also involved what the public thought of the re-start.

"A decision on the feasibility project is reached by the Ministry in cooperation with all parties involved. In this stage, when the investor has submitted to the Ministry only a letter of intent - which was returned for completion - speculations on what could be decided do not benefit the procedure assessing smelter's impact to be conducted in an objective and unbiased manner," Minister Ademi added.