The Ministry of Mining and Energy has announced a tender for the creation of a Strategy for managing mineral and other geological resources in Serbia. The objective of this strategy is to establish a sustainable policy for managing mineral and other geological resources and to outline the conditions for the sustainable development of the mining sector by 2050. The estimated cost for developing this strategy is 20.8 million Serbian dinars.
According to the tender documents, a comprehensive detailed analysis of the status of all mineral resources, groundwater, and geothermal resources has not been conducted yet. This analysis will consider aspects such as the resource base, sustainability of exploitation, environmental impact, and compliance of the mining industry with European and global standards.
“The adoption of the Strategy will increase awareness among both experts and the general public regarding the importance of mineral resource exploitation and other geological resources. It will address current and future challenges and aid in positioning Serbia within Europe and the world’s mining sector,” as stated in the documents.
The proposed strategy should cover the period from 2025 to 2040, with a projection until 2050, using 2022 as the base year. In addition to the strategy, an action plan for implementing the strategy is required, along with a strategic environmental impact assessment.
The deadline for submitting bids for the development of the strategy is January 30. The contract duration is 24 months, or two years.
The strategy should encompass, among other things, defining the current state in this field, general and specific objectives for the development of the mining system, visions, principles, and strategic guidelines that all stakeholders should follow to ensure more efficient and prosperous operations for the rapid development of the mining sector.
According to the tender documentation or the task description that will be presented to the selected bidder to develop the strategy, strategic metallic mineral resources primarily need to be assessed through the need for copper and gold ores, lead and zinc ores, boron and lithium ores, as well as uranium, nickel, and cobalt ores.
The review of strategic energy mineral resources should be approached concerning the state’s needs and securing sufficient quantities of oil, natural gas, and coal. Non-metallic mineral resources need to be assessed from the perspective of the construction, processing, and chemical industries, along with their particular role in the development of infrastructure projects of importance for Serbia and the increase in production capacity to meet these needs.
The development of the mining sector will manifest itself through the rationalization of the production of existing mines and the opening of new ones, particularly in the fields of metal and critical mineral resources, which will contribute to Serbia’s faster and stronger development.
The strategy needs to define measures that will contribute to achieving the strategy’s goals, including measures and activities of mineral policy that will lead to securing a reliable supply of mineral resources and other geological resources for Serbia’s economy and market.
Within the framework of mineral policy measures, it is necessary to define internationally recognized, active, and attractive mining industries (promotion of investments, attracting major mining companies to the geological and mining sector), as well as coordination in the field of mineral resource exploration to direct geological exploration towards finding new mineral deposits, with a specific focus on resources upon which the European and global economy depend.
Sign up for business updates & specials
