Serbia’s  Minister of Economy and Finance Mladjan Dinkic announced that the production in Serbia’s Smederevo-based steel mill will be launched in a month’s time, when all 5,200 workers return to work and 250 new ones are employed
After a meeting with heads and unions of the steel mill, Dinkic said that a procedure to fire up one blast furnace will begin and that this will be done with the funds that are at the moment allocated for allowances of workers who are on compulsory leave.
He stated that the Serbian government, despite the fact that the Russian company Uralvagonzavod did not submit an offer for the steelworks, remains open to negotiations with that company, as well as with other investors interested in the Smederevo plant in order for it to find a lasting solution.
He explained that relaunching the blast furnace will give a chance to Zelezara Smederevo to find a strategic partner, and added that it was agreed at the meeting how to optimise all costs in the company, including energy, but also wages.
Source Balkans
