DPM Simović participates in solemn Academy on occasion of Miners Day: Valuable miners achieve valuable results

Deputy Prime Minister Mr Milutin Simović took a part in the Academy on the occasion of the Miner's Day of Montenegro.

This year is a celebration of the 70th anniversary of the opening of the Mine "Zagrad" in Nikšićka Župa, which is celebrated as the Day of Miners in Montenegro. Roughly 8,000 tons of ore in the first year was dug in the first year, after which in the next ten years, other mines were opened: bauxite, coal, lead and zinc, brick clay and white bauxite. Today, is marked 66 years since the existence and work of the Coal Mine in Pljevlja.

These 70 years of Montenegrin mining are based on his long-standing tradition. Historical sources speak about mining from the time of Uroš I and the Brskovo mine from 1254. The recent history of Montenegrin mining began in the time of Petar II Petrović Njegoš, when numerous foreign missions were organised, which were tasked with examining the mineral wealth of Montenegro. However, foreign policy and domestic conditions in the second half of the 19th and the first half of the 20th century were not favorable for the development of mining", DPM Simović said.

DPM Simović also mentioned the number of emigrants from Montenegro who, at that time, went to the mines from Australia to America in order to earn money to repair the house and to buy a small property. They were returning to Montenegro and when the fatherland was needed.

"On this occasion, with the greatest piety, we remember all those who laid the foundations of modern Montenegrin mining, after the Second World War, and who, through all the temptations in the recent history and the challenges of transitional processes, preserved the core of the mining industry in Montenegro. Preserving mining as an important segment in the structure of our economy, which can and should increasingly contribute to economic growth", DPM Simović emphasised.

After the restoration of state independence, Montenegro managed to achieve dynamic economic growth. Measured by the real GDP growth rate, the average growth of our economy since 2006 to date was 3%. Last year, Montenegro achieved the growth of the economy among the highest in Europe, and encouraging data on the continuation of good trends in the current year.

The encouraging assessment of the progress of our economy has come from all relevant international addresses. On Friday, we received the latest confirmation from the rating agency Moody's, which in its new report confirmed the assessment of the B1 rating for Montenegro, with a significant change in the look from the "stable" to "positive" position.

They rated the key drivers for this improvement:

- A favorable medium-term perspective of Montenegro's economic growth supported by structural reforms, progress in EU accession and significant investment projects in the transport, tourism and energy sectors,

- Government consolidation measures that improve the fiscal position of Montenegro and

- Government effective measures in the field of public debt management.

Such breakthroughs are the result of the work of our entire society: valuable miners and good hosts and builders, and employees in the energy sector, service sector and public administration. Further progress requires further improvements and a further commitment.

Administration both at the state and local level must be even more engaged with its professional and creative capacities and responsibility and be a true impulse to achieve even better results through a direct contribution to improving the business environment. It must serve the business, further eliminating business barriers, making decisions faster.

DPM Simović underline that in all sectors, we need to create concrete initiatives and projects for faster progress. Montenegro needs a diversification of the economy, especially export-oriented manufacturing industry. Furthermore, Montenegro needs an even stronger valorisation of our tourism potentials in the south and in the north, as well as better accessibility, which will be contributed by infrastructure systems that we are rapidly building up or want to develop rapidly by respecting prestigious international experiences and standards.

The Government is clearly committed to improving the conditions in which miners work, improving their material and social position and investing in the mining sector, focused not only on the economic aspect, but also on environmental sustainability.

The Government will continue to create a business environment, in cooperation with mining companies, in which the mining potential of Montenegro will be further valued.

"We are encouraged by the results of coal and ore production last year, which amounted to over 3 million tons, which was an increase of 22% compared to the previous year. We are encouraged by the realized investments in the past year of over EUR 9 million and planned investments for the next four-year period of EUR 66 million. We are encouraged by realized profit, which was only in the coal mine Pljevlja was EUR 6.7 million. Such results in our strategic mining companies and the presented plans are encouraging for all of us, for about 1,400 employees in them, for the local economies of Pljevlja, Nikšić and Berane, and encouragement for our entire economy", DPM Simović stressed.

DPM Simović pointed that Government is confident that the new ownership structure of the Coal Mine in Pljevlja, where EPCG is now 100% owner and an integrated group of business entities, which are over 95% addressed to each other, will bring positive effects on their business and overall for our economy. The Government believes in further developments in the exploitation of bauxite, with the continuation of the already proven entrepreneurial bridle of "Uniprom metal" from Nikšić.

Values and respect are the results achieved in the Lead and Zinc Mine in Šulam, where the importance and value of the presence of the prestigious European company, such as ZGH Boleslav from Poland, which has produced about 22 thousand tons of lead concentrate and zinc, which is an increase compared to 2010, almost 20 times.

Expressing gratitude and congratulating all mining companies, DPM Simović invited all to make additional efforts to stay in line with the tradition of Montenegro in mining.

DPM Simović expressed his gratitude and respect to the proud miners of Montenegro - the men of sweat and effort  and wished them happy Montenegrin Miner’s day.