Mineral Resources in Serbia Worth Around USD 200 Billion

The value of the confirmed mineral resource reserves in Serbia is close to USD 200 billion and it is the state’s task to create the conditions for the mining sector to develop, but what we are asking for is for the state and the citizens to benefit from it, through a healthy environment, bigger income, employment and quality investments, Serbian Mining and Energy Minister Zorana Mihajlovic stated today.

She said on TV Happy that the main goal of the amendments to the Law on Mining and Geological Research was for the field to develop and for the state to collect more revenues from it, as well as to have quality investments in mining.

She added that the amendments to the law would take into account the substantial mineral resources of Serbia and enable all procedures to be transparent and efficient, preventing every form of misuse.

– We want to create the conditions for the mining sector to develop and that is why we are implementing e-mining, so that the procedures would be simpler and more efficient. However, we don’t want anyone to be favored if they are looking to research and subsequently exploit an ore and that is why we will propose for the research rights time period to be shortened, so as to prevent someone occupying an area for eight or nine years – she said.

According to her, there are now fees that are paid to the ministry per square meter, but the revenues collected by the state on that basis are low.

– It’s fine for investors to come here and explore, but the state needs to benefit from it and have a much larger income – Mihajlovic said.

She added that the amendments to the law would also pertain to the exploitation of strategic mineral resources, the procedure for which would be carried out by the Government of Serbia in line with the Law on Public-Private Partnership and Concessions in the future.

The minister emphasized that the mineral resources of Serbia would be better protected that way.

Ministarstvo rudarstva i energetike Republike Srbije

Ministry of Mining

Zorana Mihajlović

Law on Mining and Geological Research

mineral resources

mineral resource reserves

e mining

mineral resources of Serbia

research rights

Law on Public Private Partnership and Concessions