The Banovici Brown Coal Mine has entered the largest investment cycle in the past ten years, whose real value has exceeded 100 million BAM, opening the door not only to the modernization of mining but also to the development of green energy in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH).
The project includes a new waste transport system with a spreader, located in the area of the disposal site in the crater of the old open-pit mine Cubric. This system ensures more rational exploitation and enables land reclamation, thereby creating the preconditions for new, long-term investments, including projects in line with the Green Agenda.
More than 100 hectares for new projects and green energy
The Director of the Banovici Mine, Rasim Dostovic, pointed out that the book value of the investment currently amounts to 57 million BAM, but that its real value today exceeds 100 million BAM, given the long-term duration of the project.
“This investment allows us, through the Turija pit that we are currently exploiting, to close the Cubric pit in a more cost-effective way and return the land to its original state. In this way, we obtain more than 100 hectares of new areas that we will use for a future business environment and the production of green energy,” said Dostovic.
He added that the mine, in cooperation with the Government of the Federation of BiH (FBiH) and Elektroprivreda BiH, is working on finding optimal solutions so that, by 2050, capacities for the production of energy from renewable sources can be gradually developed, while preserving employment.
“The goal is that every job that is closed in the mine is compensated by a new job in other energy or industrial facilities,” Dostovic emphasized.
The first solar power plant as early as next year
As a concrete step toward the energy transition, the Banovici Mine announced that the construction of a 15-megawatt solar power plant will begin as early as next year. In the future, the development of additional capacities from renewable sources is expected, which could significantly increase the interest of foreign investors.
It is important to note that the Banovici Brown Coal Mine has been operating positively for the second year in a row, and the Management is already intensively working on preparing new investments in the coming period.
Support of the FBiH Government for the energy sector
During a visit to Banovici, a delegation of the Government of the FBiH, led by Prime Minister Nermin Niksic, expressed support for investments that strengthen the country’s energy stability.
“When miners and mines are doing well, then the energy sector of the FBiH and BiH can think about regaining sovereignty and exporting electricity,” said Prime Minister Niksic.
He added that, although the Government of the FBiH cannot directly invest in the Banovici Mine because it is not part of the Group, Elektroprivreda BiH has recently made decisions on investments of around 20 million BAM in the mines in Kakanj and Tuzla.
Mining as the foundation of the energy transition
Prime Minister Niksic emphasized that the Government of the FBiH continuously takes care of the standard of miners and that the energy transition must be carried out in a planned and responsible manner.
“The example from Banovici shows that progress is possible when there is a clear strategy, cooperation, and will,” the federal prime minister concluded, Biznis Info writes.
