With a $320 million renovation, Serbia Zijin Copper turned its decades-old TIR Smelter into a 'Garden-Like Plant', dramatically cutting sulfur dioxide emissions by more than 90% and transforming the Serbian mining city of Bor from a pollution hotspot into an environmental success story.

In the spring, thousands of tulips bloomed in the railway logistics park of the TIR Smelter at Serbia Zijin Copper, a leading copper miner and smelter operator in Serbia, attracting employees and local media who came to enjoy the picturesque scenery and take photos. The transformation of the TIR Smelter is a testament to Bor’s shift from a century-old mining town to an ecological city with a clean environment.

An eco-friendly revamp

Built by RTB BOR in 1960, the TIR Smelter became notorious for its air pollution, earning Bor the title 'pollution black spot' of the Balkans.

In December 2018, upon acquiring RTB BOR, Zijin recognized that the aging facilities and inadequate environmental systems of the smelter could not meet the company’s development needs and regulatory standards. It decided to modernize the smelter and end its pollution history using advanced environmental technologies and processes.

The renovation project began in April 2019 and was completed in 2023, with a total investment of $320 million, including nearly $100 million for environmental improvements. The revamped smelter no longer uses high-pollution fuels like heavy oil and coal. Notably, it features a comprehensive flue gas desulfurization system, ensuring all emissions are efficiently collected and treated. As a result, the smelter now meets leading international standards in both energy consumption and technological processes.

According to atmospheric monitoring data, after the new system was put into operation, the smelter’s sulfur dioxide emissions dropped by more than 90%.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said at a public event, "2014 was the most difficult year, with 156 days of exceeded sulfur dioxide levels in Bor. However, by 2023, there were none."

Translator: Jian     Reviser: Li Yuanxing   Editor-in-Chief: Wang Jie