The US company “Freeport Mcmoran” is interested in expanding the smelter capacity in Bor copper production complex on the basis of the concession for copper ore geological exploration near the city.
The US company “Freeport Mcmoran”, one of the largest mining corporations in the world, asked the information from the Serbian government whether it was possible to expand the smelter capacity, which was currently constructing in Bor .
Our information shows that during the current geological investigations near Bor, US company found about 200 million tons of copper ore with an average content of red metal from four to six percent. How big is that potential, the best illustrate the fact that in the RTB “Bor” currently is exploited the ore with maximum 0.4 percent of copper. And besides that, “Freeport” did not even complete researches.
Apparently, Americans are interested in expanding the smelter capacity from the current 80,000 to 100,000 or 120,000 of copper per year. Americans think that it is cheaper to process ore in Bor, but to drive it 400 kilometers far away to the smelter in the Bulgarian town, Pirdop.
Otherwise, one Swiss company also sent a letter to the RTB management in which expressed willingness, besides this that is already being built, to start building another similar facility, worth 200 million dollars, which could process 30,000 tons of copper per year.
Source; Serbia Energy mining desk/RTB/Min of mining
