prijava
ZENICA, September 20 (FENA) - A delegation of representatives of the legislative and executive branch of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, led by Prime Minister Fadil Novalić, paid a working visit to ArcelorMittal in Zenica (AMZ) today, at the invitation of Biju Nair, CEO of the company.
AMZ CEO Biju said that he organized a meeting in order to present transparently the state of implementation of environmental projects from the integrated environmental permit and to discuss the problems of steel exports to Kosovo and EU countries.
“Environment protection, the economy and employment must all come together. Together with this team of the FBiH Government, we are trying to clarify all aspects of the business.
I would like to thank the Prime Minister and the Minister, who promised to help us obtain a building permit for the construction of a natural gas-fired heating plant,” Biju said.
He said that they also discussed the future of the company after 2022 and what the impacts would be if the ‘Koksara’ (raw coke production) department is no longer in operation after that date.
“We talked about the consequences for the heating system in Zenica without the coke gas,” Biju said.
FBiH Prime Minister Fadil Novalić said that the composition of the delegation that came to Zenica reflects what the major problems are in that company.
“We have some other challenges and problems related to AMZ. We are pleased to visit this company, where we got all the answers to the issues that concern us.
The Federation of BiH is in charge of this company, not only because of its ownership share, but also because of the issues related to its operation at the FBiH level,” said Novalić.
He recalled that one of the companies in which the FBiH Government also has ownership share, the ‘Aluminij’ Mostar has collapsed but now they are doing their best to prevent this from happening with AMZ.
“A very significant influence of AMZ is on our Railways company as well, which have just been stabilized, then BH Gas, Elektroprijenos and Elektroprivreda BiH,” recalled Novalić, who noted that a few days ago, at a protest rally, they spoke about the situation in the company with AMZ workers.
He added that they were convinced that, despite the public perception, AMZ has implemented and is implementing significant environmental projects.
He noted that four water discharges in the Bosna River are fully acceptable, while the city and the Zenica Mine are connected to the fourth, so that they will need to be separated in the coming period. Soon, the problem of the Rača Landfill will be solved, said Novalić, so it remains only to setup a new energy plant and install the remaining filters.
“The next aspect is economic one. Because, if we do not save the steelworks company, then there will be zero pollution,” said Novalić.
FBiH Minister of Energy, Mining and Industry Nermin Džindić announced new meetings as early as next week, this time in Sarajevo.
The continuous and secure supply of electricity in the coming period, with a focus on deferred payment, will be the topic of a meeting with Elektroprivreda BiH ,”said Džindić, who also announced a meeting with BH Gas management next Monday or Tuesday.
He noted that 2,400 workers and the large investments made so far, as well as the revenues generated by the company, push everyone into work harder and working together.
(FENA) S. R.
