At
the Miner’s Memorial in Stari Kostolac, Elektroprivreda Srbije traditionally
commemorated Miners’ Day. “Today marks the 155th anniversary of the
commencement of organized coal mining in the Kostolac basin,” said Dušan
Živković, General Manager of EPS JSC. “The countless cubic meters of overburden
removed, and the millions of tons of coal extracted in Kostolac and Kolubara,
through round-the-clock labor in all weather conditions, stand as a testament
to the dedication, expertise, and unwavering commitment of generations of
miners.”
Živković
emphasized that, alongside substantial investments in renewable energy sources,
we remain fully aware of our base energy. For this reason, investment in the
modernization of mining equipment and the enhancement of miners’ working
conditions continues apace.
“In
the first half of this year, EPS allocated 8.2 billion dinars to the mining
sector,” he noted. “The most significant initiative aimed at securing the
necessary additional coal supplies is the investment in two ECS systems for the
new Kolubara mine, Radljevo. Complex and large-scale assembly work is currently
underway, with the objective of having the equipment installed by year’s end,
enabling the systems to enter production in 2026.”
Ivan
Janković, Assistant Minister for Geology and Mining at the Ministry of Mining
and Energy, stated that the Ministry remains firmly committed to shaping and
executing a long-term strategy for the sector’s development, including refining
the legislative framework, enhancing working conditions, ensuring safety and
social protection, and bolstering mining operations.
“Mining
continues to experience steady growth, employing over 30,000 people and
ensuring energy security, infrastructure expansion, and broader economic
development,” said Ivan Janković. “In the first quarter of this year, mining’s
contribution to gross domestic product surpassed 3%, with production increasing
by 4.1% in the first half of 2025. As for Elektroprivreda Srbije, coal output
in June rose by 21% compared to the same period last year, and projections
suggest that July’s figures could be as much as 30% higher.”
Petar
Urošević, a mining engineer from the Drmno OCM, noted that mining demands more
than just technical know-how. It requires stability, determination, and
readiness to find the solutions for unplanned events and it makes the
foundation of every stable energy system. “It’s not solely reliant on
technology,” he said, “but above all on the individuals who, through their
expertise, experience, and commitment, carry out complex and highly responsible
work.”.
In
tribute to the generations who labored in both the former underground mines and
the present-day open-cast operations, wreaths were laid at the Miner’s Memorial
in Stari Kostolac. The ceremony was attended by Ivan Janković and Milan
Novaković from the Ministry of Mining and Energy; Dušan Živković, General
Manager of EPS JSC, representatives from the TPP-OCM Kostolac branch; members
of the Kostolac trade union; the Mayor of Požarevac; and officials from the
City Municipality of Kostolac.
