Chinese mining company Zijin Mining, which owns and operates a copper mining and smelting complex in the Serbian town of Bor, donated a million euros (approximately USD 1.19 million) to the local community on Thursday to build a water supply system that will serve 1,000 people. in the nearby village of Metovnitsa.
The donation agreement was signed in Metovnica by Bora Mayor Aleksandr Milikic and representatives of Zijin Mining and a local water company at a handover ceremony in the presence of Serbian Deputy Prime Minister Zorana Mikhailovic, employees of the Chinese Embassy in the country and several local residents.
Thanking the authorities and the Chinese company, A. Milikic said that the donation will allow all households in the village, located about 10 km south of Bor, to receive drinking water by the beginning of November.
He added that Zijin Mining's presence in Bor City has increased tax revenues since 2019, increased the city's annual budget by 40% and created jobs for 1,500 local young people.
Z. Mikhailovich, who is also the country's Minister of Energy and Mining, recalled that “mining is not only ore” and the donation to Zijin Mining shows how living conditions can be improved.
“About 300 children attending rural school will have a future, and in that future they will have water, electricity, roads and job opportunities,” she said.
Z. Mikhailovich noted that a large mine called "Chukaru Peki" will be opened this fall. It will be one of the largest copper and gold mining sites in Europe and the first green mine in Serbia.
“It will really be a“ green mine ”, and it will differ from all those that we are used to seeing and in which we worked,” said Z. Mikhailovich, adding that the mine will become the second largest copper and gold mine in Europe after a mine in Poland.
