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
About Zijin Mining
Zijin Mining is a leading global metals and mining company and one of the world’s largest producers of gold, copper, and zinc. The company has more than 30 large-scale mining operations and projects across 19 countries on 5 continents. Leveraging strong in-house research, engineering, and development capabilities, Zijin maintains high operational efficiency and low costs in both acquisitions and operations. This enables the company to be an industry leader in value creation, underpinned by its philosophy of pursuing development for all and sustained by superior environmental, social, and governance performance. Zijin’s shares trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange (HKEX: 2899) and the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE: 601899).