Production in Koksara in Lukavac is being shut down. The decision was made by the Assembly of creditors of Koksara in bankruptcy. The decision came after no offer from a potential strategic partner that would be ready to continue production was received. Regardless of the fact that the workers’ entire claims will be paid as a priority after the partial sale of the assets, the Workers’ Union accepted the decision to shut down with indignation.
The long-awaited Assembly of creditors of Koksara put an end to the unsuccessful process of finding a potential strategic partner for the continuation of production in this former industrial giant. Even the current temporary strategic partner – Pavgord from Foča – which, apparently, is no longer interested in coke production, did not apply either.
“The Assembly had no other way but to make a decision to start the process of stopping these plants in the coming period. What we could not influence as the Assembly today was finding partners, who are not available for coke production. And we could not force anyone to continue coke production,” said Almir Bajrić, bankruptcy administrator of Koksara Lukavac in bankruptcy.
The decision to shut down production is final. Regardless of the opposition of dissatisfied workers, such a decision will have to be implemented.
“I am expressing great concern because the workers, especially the engineers and managers, have emphasized that if the October and ten days of November wages are not paid, which went to the bankruptcy estate, they will not proceed with the shutdown. The workers, when they hear this news, are not ready for this undertaking,” said Ermin Halilović, president of the bankrupt Koksara Lukavac Workers’ Union.
“I am openly saying that this is a planned shutdown of Koksara. This could have been done in another way. I blame the cantonal government the most, it determines the management”, says Nurdin Đuzić, former president of the Koksara Lukavac Trade Union.
“The decision to shut down cannot be stopped. Institutions and other bodies must now monitor this, because we cannot allow a process to be jeopardized due to an uncontrolled part. I expect that there will be no problems. In Zenica, the coke battery was shut down completely safely, in one simple way,” said Bajrić.
The entire workers’ claims, which are in the total amount of about 7.5 million marks, are in the higher order of payment and will be paid in full as a matter of priority. Everything depends on the partial sale of the property, which will follow very soon.
“We will proceed in February with obtaining all offers for the sale of a legal entity or the sale of a company or individually and according to the interest, which will certainly be, whether for the entire legal entity or individually, an invitation for sale will be announced immediately in March, so we expect that already in April we will have monetized assets from which we will be able to immediately pay salaries to the workers”, added Bajrić.
Of the 660 million marks in total reported claims, 550 million marks have been recognized. The largest amount owed is to the British Moorgate, around 300 million marks, and the Croatian Erdal-trading, around 130 million marks.
