OREANDA-NEWS. December 25, 2014. ArcelorMittal Prijedor, the mining business located in the Republika Srpska entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina, this week celebrates a decade of successful operation since ArcelorMittal acquired 51% of the previously state-owned enterprise in 2004.

Over EUR35m have since been invested in the business, which had been defunct since the conflicts of the 1990s. ArcelorMittal Prijedor now employs over 850 people, making it one of the largest employers in the region and a major contributor to the local and regional economies through taxation and payments to suppliers as well as salaries.

During its first ten years of operation, over 15 million tonnes of iron ore has been produced and shipped, with the majority of production going to ArcelorMittal’s steel plant at Zenica, in the Federation entity of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Commenting at a special ‘Miner’s Day’ event held to mark the occasion, chief executive Mr Mladen Jelaca said:

“We are extremely proud of what has been achieved during these past 10 years. Through planned investments, and the skill and determination of our workforce, the foundations for a long-term, sustainable successful business have been laid. In doing this, we have also successfully made health and safety and Social Responsibility core elements of how we work; and we are as proud of our achievements in those areas as we are of our commercial success.”

ArcelorMittal Prijedor’s success story has been recognised by many awards, including the Republika Srpska Chamber of Commerce award for the most successful company in Republika Srpska in 2005, 2006 and 2007. Its achievements in the area of health and safety were certified by IRCA, an expert international company for the audit and certification of health and safety standards.

The company was also recognised by the Republika Srpska Chamber of Commerce for its contribution to the development of corporate social responsibility in 2009 and 2012. ArcelorMittal Prijedor has donated over EUR1.5m to local community projects, including major contributions to aid and reconstruction operations after the major floods in spring 2014.