The mineral industries of Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia

by Walter G. Steblez

THE MINERAL INDUSTRIES OF

Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia

By Walter G. Steblez

Europe's Adriatic Balkan region is part of the southern portion of the Mediterranean Alpine folded zone, which extends through the Dinarides of the former Yugoslavia (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Serbia and Montenegro, and Slovenia), the Albanides of Albania, and the Hellenides of Greece. The exploitation of the Bor copper deposit in Serbia may have had prehistoric beginnings; however, mining for base and precious metals may be traced through historical records to at least the 5th century BC.

More recently (from the 1930s to 2000), mineral deposits in the region became better defined. Commercial resources of major base metals included those of aluminium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, nickel, and zinc. Precious metals (gold, silver, palladium, and platinum) were found mainly in association with such base metals as copper, lead, and zinc. Industrial minerals are represented by a broad range of carbonate and silicate rocks, clays, gravels and sands, and volcanic material. Mineral fuels included coal (lignite), natural gas, and petroleum.

Until the early 1990s, the mining, processing, and downstream exploitation of base metals established the region as a major European source of copper, lead, and zinc and a major world producer of chromite. The transition of the region from central economic planning to market economy systems from 1991 to 2000, however, began a swift deconstruction of existing political, commercial, and social structures. The ensuing political, social, and ethnic tensions and conflicts destroyed or degraded much of the region's mineral industries and industrial infrastructure. In 2000, active conflict in the region centered in Kosovo Province in Serbia and Montenegro and in Macedonia.

The future status of the minerals industries in the countries of the Adriatic Balkan region will only be clarified following political settlement and normalization not only between the states in the region, but also within Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro.

ALBANIA

In 2000, Albania continued to make progress toward fully developing a market economy system. The country's gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 7.8% compared with that of 1999. This was the third year of sustained economic growth, following a major downturn in 1997 that was caused partly by internal economic issues related to Albania's transition to a market economy and partly by regional instability, especially in the neighboring republics of the former Yugoslavia.

Mineral deposits that traditionally are associated with Albania include chromite, copper ore, and nickeliferous iron ore, as well as natural gas and petroleum. In 2000, with the exception of nickeliferous iron ore, these deposits and such other minerals as bauxite, phosphate rock, dolomite, gypsum, and marble have been intermittently worked. Only chromite, copper, gas, and oil, which are minerals of major commercial importance, have shown sustained exploitation.

Under the central economic planning system, especially from the late 1970s through 1990, Albania's chromite mining operations were among the more important components of the mineral industry. During this period, Albania was a leading world producer and exporter of chromite; the country often was ranked second in terms of export and third in terms of production. During this period, exports of chromite, ferrochromium, and petroleum refinery products constituted the country's chief sources of foreign exchange.

For much of the 1990s, Albania's chromite mining and processing industry generally paralleled the moribund performance of the country's economy. Mine production, which amounted to more than 1 million metric tons per year (Mt/yr) of chromite in the 1980s, declined to 236,000 metric tons (t) by 1995, and fell to 79,445 t in 1999. Following several years of unsuccessful searches for foreign partners to invest in the chromite mining and processing industry, in 2000, the Government of Albania awarded Hayri Ogelman Madencilik of Turkey a long-term concession to upgrade and operate the Kalimash mining and beneficiation complex and, in addition, to develop mines at the Perollajt and Vllahane deposits in the northeastern part of the country. Hayri Ogelman Madencilik also planned to invest about $40 million in these projects as well as for the construction of a new ferrochromium plant in Elbasan (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001a, p. 17).

The existing ferrochromium plant at Elbasan came under operational management of ferrochromium producer, Darfo S.p.A. of Italy because of a long-term, 30-year concession agreement with the Government of Albania (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001a, p. 17). The agreement also gave Darfo the right to operate the Pojska and the Prrenjas chromite mines; the Pojska Mine had not produced since 1996, and the Prrenjas Mine last reported production in 1998 (980 t). Darfo's investment plan would amount to $15 million, of which $14.5 million was earmarked for modernization of the Elbasan ferrochromium plant and $0.5 million was to be invested in the Pojska and the Prrenjas Mines. Darfo sought a second concession to operate the Bulquize mining and beneficiation complex.

In 2000, the Turkish copper smelting concern, Ber-Ober Madencilik San've Tic As (Ber-Ober), was granted a 30-year concession to operate Albania's copper industry on a build-operate-transfer basis. The concession included mines and processing facilities in the Lezhe, Midrite, and Puke Districts. Ber-Ober planned to invest about $24.5 million in Albania's copper industry (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001a, p. 17).

Between 1994 and 1996, there was a hiatus of steel production at the Elbasan steelworks, which virtually had been abandoned during the 1990s. Some production resumed in 1997, 1998, and 1999, which amounted to 20,533 t, 19,527 t, and 4,813 t, respectively. In 1999, operations and management at Elbasan came under control of Kurum Steel Co. of Turkey under a 20-year lease agreement with the Government of Albania. By the beginning of 2000, production at Elbasan had risen to more than 10,000 metric tons per month from less than 10,000 metric tons per year (t/yr) (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001, p. 18). In 2000, Kurum's operations at Elbasan were based on two 15-t electric arc furnaces, a third electric arc furnace being converted to a ladle furnace, and one ladle furnace. In addition, Kurum operated a 250,000-t/yr billet caster, a 20,000-t/yr medium sections mill, a 180,000-t/yr bar and 30,000-t/yr wire rod mill, and a 10,000-t/yr merchant bar mill. Total finished carbon steel capacity at Elbasan in 2000 was 240,000 t/yr. Scrap steel raw materials were imported from Turkey and Ukraine. Target markets included Kosovo (Ayers, 2000).

The privatization and sale of the Fushe-Kruje cement plant for $12.5 million in April was among the major events in the industrial minerals sector during the year (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001a, p. 12, 15). The plant reportedly had production capacity of 150,000 t/yr of cement. The new owner RMC-ECF (a United Kingdom-Lebanese consortium) instituted an investment program to raise the capacity to meet 45% of domestic needs, thereby reducing imports. Recent cement output has not exceeded the 243,000 t produced in 1995, and imports have ranged from 500,000 to 600,000 t/yr. Facility expansion was expected to be completed in 2001. In 1997, the Lebanon-based cement trading and producing concern Seament Holding S.A.L. acquired a 70% stake in the Elbasan Cement Factory and 70% in United Quarries, which operated an adjacent limestone quarry. Facility expansion also was planned at the Elbasan plant, which would include the installation of a new 500,000-t/yr dry process clinker kiln. The project would include the possible participation of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development; financing could range between $15 million and $18 million (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001a, p. 12, 15).

Albania's energy production was based on coal, hydropower, natural gas, and petroleum production. The output of such mineral fuels as natural gas and petroleum, however, was central to the country's future developmental plans. The country's reported recoverable reserves of petroleum amounted to about 550 million metric tons. The state petroleum- and natural-gas-producing company Albpetrol Ltd. was reorganized in 1999 into three commercial companies—APC (the new official designation of Albpetrol), which was in charge of petroleum production; Servcom Sh.A., which was in charge of handling services; and Armo, which was in charge of refining and marketing (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001a, p. 17). With the participation of the World Bank and the Government of Italy, Armo was the first to be privatized in 2001. Most of the Albania's petroleum was extracted at Berat and Fier in the south-central and southwestern parts of the country, respectively. The major refineries were at Ballsh, which had capacity of 1 Mt/yr, and at Fier, which had capacity of about one-half that of Ballsh. The Ballsh refinery indicated plans to start the production of lead-free refined gasoline in 2001. Three other refineries with a cumulative capacity of 1 Mt/yr were capable only of primary processing.

Another major activity in the petroleum sector involved a memorandum of understanding that was signed during the year relative to the construction of a trans-Balkan pipeline that would extend from Burgas on the coast of Bulgaria through the city of Skopje in Macedonia to the port of Vlore in Albania. The Burgas Vlore Pipeline was projected to be about 913 kilometers long and have a total cost of $1.13 billion. The pipeline would be built and operated by the U.S.-based consortium Albanian, Macedonian, and Bulgarian Oil Corp. Financing would be based on bank credits from international financial institutions (about $60 million), and the balance, from the sale of company shares. Construction was scheduled to start in 2001 and to be completed in 2005. The pipeline was intended to carry 750,000 barrels per day of petroleum from Russia and other states of the former Soviet Union from the Black Sea to western European markets.

BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Bosnia and Herzegovina's mineral resources with associated mining and processing facilities remained divided within the country's two administrative zones—the Federation of Bosnian Moslems and Croatians (FBC), which formed one entity (about 51% of Bosnia and Herzegovina), and the Republika Srpska (RS) with a predominantly Serbian population, which formed the other entity (49%). In 2000, the process of reintegrating the two zones continued to show little progress.

The economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina continued to be difficult to gauge owing to the lack of uniform reporting by each side to the Agency for Statistics in Sarajevo. The growth rate of the country's GDP for 1999, which continued to be driven by transfers from abroad and by capital inflows, was revised to 7% from the 10% reported earlier (Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2000, p. 36). A similar GDP growth rate in 2000 was expected but would be contingent on continued financial assistance from the international community, which continued to focus its efforts on the development of a market economy and the reconstruction of Bosnia and Herzegovina's postwar industry and infrastructure (U.S. Agency for International Development, 2000a).

Industrial production in the FBC rose by 8.8% in 2000 compared with that of 1999. The energy sector, which represented about 35% of the value of industrial output (coal production and electric power), accounted for most of this increase. Overall, mining output, which accounted for more than 10% of total industrial production, rose by about 10.4% in 2000 compared with that of 1999. In the FBC, coal was produced in the Tuzla and the Zenica regions with most of the output earmarked for the Kakanj and the Tuzla powerplants. The FBC accounted for about 80% of total resources of brown coal and for about 60% of the lignite in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Bauxite and alumina were produced in the southern and western areas of the FBC, and aluminum was smelted in Mostar. Lead and zinc ore has been produced at Olovo and Vares, but the mining status of these operations was uncertain in 2000. Iron ore production was centered at Jablanica and Vares, and that of manganese ore, at Bosanska Krupa.

The FBC was the only producer of steel in Bosnia and Herzegovina. BH Steel Co. Zenica produced pig iron and carbon steel; additional cold-rolled steel and pipe was produced at Unis in Sarajevo. In 2000, major activities in the steel sector included a contract awarded to Danieli SpA of Italy by BH Steel to supply a new 100-t electric arc furnace and to modernize an existing light section mill.

The FBC also had exploitable resources of barite, gypsum, magnesite, and rock salt. The levels of output of these as well as other mineral commodities, however, were not fully clear in 2000.

In the RS, industrial production increased by 5.6% in 2000 compared with that of 1999. The increase was buoyed largely by an 8.6% increase in the output of raw materials, of which nonferrous metals and base chemicals reportedly recorded the largest increase in production (Köhl, 2001). All branches of the minerals industry (mining to semimanufactures), however, represented about 20% of total industrial output.

Bauxite deposits of regional importance were worked at Vlasenica and Zvornik in the eastern RS and near Banja Luka in the northwestern RS. Although the RS was not a producer of aluminum, alumina was refined at Zvornik for export. Lead and zinc were mined at Srebrenica. Substantial deposits of nickel also had been worked at the Vardiste Mines near Visegrad. Although complete data on mineral production have been scarce, the latest data (1998) on capacity utilization suggest a low level of production within the minerals industry sector of the RS. In ferrous metals mining and beneficiation, nonferrous metals mining, and nonferrous metals production, capacity utilization amounted to about 20%, 5%, and 8%, respectively. Capacity utilization for total downstream metalworking amounted to about 61%. Capacity utilization in industrial minerals mining and processing had fallen to about 14% and 3%, respectively. In the cement, concrete, and sand production branches, capacity utilization amounted to 24%. Coal production and petroleum-refining branches reported having attained capacity utilization levels of 59% and 26%, respectively (U.S. Agency for International Development, 2000b, p. 48–54).

The modernization and privatization of the mineral industries in both halves of Bosnia and Herzegovina as well as the establishment of reliable markets continue to be essential for their long-term viability.

CROATIA

Petroleum production and refining remained the chief components of Croatia's minerals industry. Small quantities of ferrous and nonferrous metals and industrial minerals were produced, mainly for domestic needs.

In 2000, following a year of economic stagnation, Croatia's GDP grew by 3.5%, and industrial production, by about 1.7%. The total value of output of the mining and quarrying sector increased by 1.8%, of which the value of petroleum output increased by 2%. The output of petroleum refinery products, base metals, and processed industrial minerals rose by 5.4%, 4.4%, and 4.1%, respectively.

Major activities in the oil and gas sector included the Government's plan to privatize Croatia's state-owned oil company Industrija Nafte d.d. Zagreb (INA) in 2002. INA operated domestic oilfields and gasfields southeast of Zagreb near the Hungarian border and along the Adriatic coast. The country's primary source of petroleum came from imports via the Adria pipeline that runs from Omisalj on the Adriatic coast toward Sisak (refinery) to the east and then northward towards Hungary. About two-thirds of the crude oil consumed by Croatia was imported from oilfields that INA operated under contract in Angola, Egypt, and Russia. New offshore Adriatic deposits were under development and exploitation through a joint venture with ENI of Italy (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001, p. 13). Also, INA's Sisak refinery began to ship petroleum refinery products to Serbia and Montenegro in October shortly after the cancellation of the international embargo. Other developments involved Jadranski Naftovod, d.d. Zagreb (JANAF), in which INA held a 38% stake. In October, JANAF and Russia concluded an agreement that called for Yukos of Russia to participate in the modernization of the Adria pipeline and its linkage with Yukos's Druzhba pipeline, which supplies Central Europe with petroleum. The project would allow Yukos to transport crude petroleum to the port of Omisajl in Croatia for loading onto tankers (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001b, p. 13).

Croatia's production of metals was based mainly on domestic and imported secondary raw materials. With the exception of crude steel, the output of which fell by nearly 8%, the production of aluminum semimanufactures (output of primary aluminum declined slightly) and ferroalloys registered recovery in 2000. Ferroalloy (ferrochromium) production resumed following a break in output in 1999.

Jadranska Zelejzara Split on the Adriatic coast and SP MK Zeljezare Sisak d.d. in Sisak composed the country's steel industry. Major activities in the iron and steel industry in 2000 included a contract Jadranska awarded to Voest Alpine Industrieanlagenbau of Austria to modernize Jadranska's operations. The renovation of Jadranska would cost about $10 million and include the installation of a new electric arc furnace, a two-stand Concast billet caster, and a rolling mill. The new electric arc furnace, which would replace two older furnaces, was scheduled for startup in September 2001 and would have a design capacity of 81,000 t/yr. Total steel production capacity at Jadranska was to be about 170,000 t/yr (Metal Bulletin, 2000a). Other issues in the steel industry involved the European Union's (EU) imposition of a definitive 23% duty on imports of Croatian seamless pipe and tube in response to findings of dumping by the European Commission. This measure replaced the imposition of a provisional 31.2% duty by the EU in 1999 (Burgert, 2000).

There was a rise in output in the industrial minerals sector. The cement industry, which helped drive the quarrying of industrial minerals used in construction saw production increase by more than 3% compared with that of 1999. Foreign investment by a United Kingdom-based consortium in Dalmacija Cement, which amounted to $48.01 million, mainly was earmarked to convert operations from fuel oil to coal and petroleum-based coke.

The outlook for Croatia's economy and minerals industry, as well as for that of the other republics of the former Yugoslavia, is captive to political and social stabilization in the region.

MACEDONIA

The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (Macedonia) showed strong recovery from the economic downturn that followed the Kosovo conflict of 1999. The GDP increased by 5.1% compared with that of 1999. The industrial minerals and construction material branches of industry were major contributors to this rebound, which mainly was caused by demand generated by reconstruction efforts in neighboring Kosovo. Freer access to markets in the EU also helped improve the country's economic performance in 2000 (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001, p. 2-5). In 2000, industry and mining accounted for 21.1% of Macedonia's GDP. Compared with that of 1999, the increase in the total value of industrial production exceeded 5%, of which the output of coal, iron and steel, nonferrous ores and metals, and construction materials accounted for 2.1%, 4.3%, 4.8%, and 5.1% respectively (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001, p. 12).

The Government of Macedonia remained committed to developing the country's market economy system as well as promoting foreign investment. In 2000, foreign investment was represented almost in all branches of the minerals industry.

Macedonia produced a range of metals that included copper, ferroalloys, lead, silver, steel products, and zinc. The country's secondary aluminum industry centered on Alumina A.D. in Skopje, which had the capacity to produce 20,000 t/yr of billets and 12,000 t/yr of semimanufactures. The denationalization of major enterprises in the metals branch had important results during the year. The Skopje-based Feni-Rudnici i Industrija za Nikel, Celik i Antimon (FENI), which produced mainly ferronickel, was acquired by Societe Commerciale de Metaux et Mineraux (SCMM) of France for $2.25 million. FENI was 1 of 12 loss-making Macedonian enterprises that were determined to be suitable for closure or sale by the International Monetary Fund. Earlier in the year, Glencore International AG of Switzerland and other commercial enterprises had conducted negotiations with the Government to purchase FENI, which did not prove successful. The terms of SCMM's acquisition of FENI included a purchase price of $2.25 million and a commitment to invest a further $36 million in FENI's operation (Cahners Business Information, 2000; Hope, 2000). The Government of Macedonia also sold 82% of shares of the country's principal mine producer of copper Bucim, Rabotna Organiziacija za Rudarstvo i Metalurgija za Baker's (Bucim) (246,270 shares at $6.06 per share) through the Macedonian Stock Exchange. Bucim operated a mine and mill near Radovis. Other enterprises that were slated for sale or closure included ferroalloy producer Jugohrom, Hemijsko-Elektrometalurski Kombinat and the lead and zinc mining, beneficiation, and smelting complex Prepobotuvacki, Kombinat Zletovo-Sasa (Hope, 2000). Steel was produced at AD Makstil (a subsidiary of Duferco). Duferco had made investments that included upgrading the steel plant's continuous casters and electric arc furnaces and the installation of a ladle furnace. In 2000, Makstil reported that the production of heavy plate exceeded 240,000 t.

Macedonia also produced such industrial minerals as bentonite, feldspar, gypsum, sand and gravel, and stone (carbonate and silicate), as well as cement and other construction materials that were based on domestic quarried products. About 20% of mine output of industrial minerals was consumed domestically; the balance was exported mainly to other Balkan countries, the EU, and Russia. In 2000, important activities in this branch, including its downstream construction materials group, included a planned sale of Mermeren Kombinat Prilep, which was the country's largest producer of marble, to I. Kiriakidis S.A. of Drama, Greece. The Cyprus-based consortium Balkcem Ltd. (comprising Titan Cement S.A. of Greece and Holderbank Group of Switzerland) invested $30.7 million in A.D. Cementarnica USJE (USJE) for facility modernization to reduce costs and to increase environmental protection. To help achieve the latter, Balkcem, which had acquired 86.4% of USJE's shares in 1998, planned to discontinue USJE's production of asbestos and asbestos cement in 2001 (Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, 2000).

Coal and petroleum constituted about 52% and 15%, respectively, of total fuel sources at electric power generators. Most coal (lignite) was from domestic mining; however, all natural gas and petroleum had to be imported. Major foreign investment in the energy sector was accomplished in late 1999 with the purchase of OKTA A.D., Macedonia's sole petroleum refinery. In addition to the $32 million purchase price, Hellenic Petroleum S.A. indicated that it would allocate an additional $40 million for the modernization of the refinery. In December, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development indicated approval of a $50 million loan to help finance the Thessaloniki-Skopje crude petroleum pipeline. The proposed pipeline, which would carry 2.5 Mt/yr of petroleum, was expected to reduce transportation costs of petroleum to Macedonia. Additionally, the proposed pipeline, which would extend from the Greek port of Thessaloniki to its OKTA terminus, was considered to be a better environmental alternative to the existing rail and trucking petroleum delivery route that follows the Vardar River, which also is a wildlife habitat (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001, p. 17).

SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO

Serbia and Montenegro began the year facing a major effort to rebuild roads, electric power stations, steel mills, and other industrial plants and infrastructure that had been heavily damaged during the Kosovo conflict of 1999. Additionally, bridges that had been destroyed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) air campaign remained effective obstacles to normal international freight traffic, which included a significant amount of mineral raw materials, on the Danube River.

Despite continuing economic sanctions imposed by the international community and the loss of effective political and economic control of Kosovo (with resources of nickel, lead, and zinc ores, coal, and production facilities for lead and zinc, ferronickel, and tin-plate, as well as a substantial portion of lignite-producing mines), the economy of Serbia and Montenegro rebounded from the sharp decline of 18% in the GDP in 1999. In 2000, the country's GDP rose by 7%, and industrial production, by 12% compared with those of 1999 (Serbia and Montenegro Federal Statistical Office, 2001, p. 4).

The yearend results of the minerals industry generally showed improvement in performance compared with those of 1999. The value of output levels attained in 2000 in the mineral fuels branch showed increases of 8%, 11%, and 6% for coal, oil and gas, and oil derivatives, respectively; iron and steel, industrial (nonmetallic) minerals, and nonferrous metals branches recorded 152%, 38%, and 7% increases in output, respectively, compared with 1999 production levels (Serbia and Montenegro Federal Statistical Office, 2001, p. 4). A comparison of output with prewar mineral production levels achieved in 1998, however, underscores a far less than full recovery.

The gross weight of mine output of lead and zinc and copper ores was 52% and 35%, respectively, below respective output levels achieved in 1998; the production of refined lead, silver, copper, and zinc, fell short by 95%, 78%, 52%, and 42%, respectively. In the nonferrous metals branch, only alumina, aluminum, and bauxite operations, which are in Montenegro, registered substantial gains compared with 1998 in terms of physical production levels, largely because of favorable treatment that was accorded to Montenegro's economy by the European Commission. Aluminum, alumina, and aluminum hydroxide were the only products that would be allowed entry into the EU from Serbia and Montenegro duty free (Metal Bulletin, 2000c). To meet prospective export opportunities, Montenegro's Podgorica smelter (managed by Glencore) announced plans to decrease idle capacity at the plant and to lower production costs (Reuters Ltd., 2000a). Such subsidiary semimanufacturing operations as rolling mills, casting plants, and other similar facilities were to be offered for sale during the year (Metal Bulletin, 2000b).

Exports of most nonferrous metals and nonferrous metal semimanufactures registered increases in 2000, albeit not at the levels of aluminum and its alloys. Major issues in the nonferrous metals industry remained centered on the Bor and the Trepca mining, beneficiation, smelting, and refining complexes for copper and lead and zinc, respectively. Rudarsko Topionicki Bazen's Bor mining, beneficiation, and smelting complex, which accounted for all of Serbia and Montenegro's mine, smelter, and refinery output of copper production, was the subject of domestic and international scrutiny and concern about the alleged smuggling of gold recovered from copper mining to foreign metals markets (Smith, 2001). Kosovo-based Rudarsko-Metalursko-Hemijski Kombinat za Olovo i Cink Trepca (Trepca), which had operated only the lead plant fed by stockpiled concentrates since resuming operation in July 1999, was seized by NATO forces. According to NATO spokespersons, the objective of the seizure was to bring the smelter into compliance with environmental regulations (Mining Journal, 2000; Reuter Ltd., 2000b). NATO authorities, however, promised to keep and pay the Trepca workforce at their current (2000) salary levels despite a modernization program that could take several years (Maguire, 2000). Trepca also had been a producer of such associated metals as antimony, bismuth, cadmium, gold, and silver.

The gross weight production, in order of processing, of crude steel, pig iron, and steel semimanufactures fell short of their 1998 production levels by 28%, 32%, and 58%, respectively. In 2000, the Yugoslav Iron and Steel Federation commissioned Usinor Consultants of France to study ways to raise the competitiveness of Serbia and Montenegro's steel industry. As part of an overall rationalization strategy, Usinor urged a rapid privatization of the Sartid AD Smederevo integrated steel mill in Serbia and Zeljezra Niksic AD in Montenegro. Near-term plans for facility expansion at Sartid also included the installation of a 150,000-t/yr galvanizing line and a new continuous caster, as well as a pulverized coal injection system in the No. 2 blast furnace. Plans at Zeljezara Niksic included the installation of a new electric arc furnace, a new continuous casting unit, and a new ladle furnace.

The situation for industrial and mineral fuels was not dissimilar to that of the metals; most commodities in 2000 were substantially below their 1998 output levels, with the exception of bentonite, brown coal, gypsum, lime, quartz sand, and salt, which showed increases. A negotiated lease by the United Nations Interim Administration Mission in Kosovo of the Sharr cement plant (near the Macedonian border) to Holderbank Financière Glaris Ltd. was one of the salient events in the industrial minerals branch. Under the terms of the lease, Holderbank would invest about $16.4 million in the Sharr cement plant to modernize production and to institute environmental protection and health and safety standards. The full operation of the 600,000-t/yr Sharr cement plant and attendant quarries, whose production included clay, limestone, and marl, also would help stabilize employment in the region.

At yearend, striking coal miners in Serbia helped bring about a recognition of election results by the Government. Political and economic stability in the region, however, appears to be a long-term prospect.

SLOVENIA

Slovenia's minerals industry produced a modest range and minor quantities of mineral commodities that included coal, natural gas, petroleum, and a variety of industrial minerals. The country relied heavily on imports of fossil fuels, ferrous and nonferrous ores and metals, and other mining and quarrying products.

With well-developed systems of transportation and modern telecommunications, Slovenia had one of the more technically advanced industrial bases of the republics of the former Yugoslavia. Chemicals, electronics and telecommunications, and retail were the sectors with highest rates of growth (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001, p. 3). In 2000, the performance of the country's economy remained positive, given the increase in the GDP of 4.25% compared with that of 1999; the total value of industrial production rose by 6.2%. The output and fabrication of metals showed combined gains in excess of 12%. The mining and quarrying share of industrial output, however, declined by 2.7%, as did that of industrial mineral products, which declined by 3.6%. Also, a substantial decline of production of processed mineral fuels (primarily coke and petroleum refinery products) was noted.

With the exception of nonferrous metals, whose value of imports continued to match that of exports, Slovenia depended heavily on imports for almost all mineral commodities. According to the latest available trade data (1999), this dependency, valued in U.S. dollars, increased for most commodity groups in 1999 compared with that of 1998. In 1999, the net value of imports of gold (nonmonetary), metal ores and scrap, and iron and steel increased by 70%, 11.5%, and 1.2%, respectively. Net imports of industrial mineral goods rose by about 5.7%. With respect to mineral fuels, the combined net import value of coal, coal briquettes, and coke increased by about 63%, but that of crude and refined petroleum declined by about 17% compared with those of 1998 (Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 2000, p. 390-391).

The Government continued to promote the country's transition process to a market economy system. The Energy Act was adopted in 1999 to promote privatization and stimulate foreign investment in the energy sector. Major activities in the energy sector included a program of modernization at the Krsko nuclear powerplant, which Slovenia jointly owns and operates with neighboring Croatia (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001, p. 14).

In 2000, salient activities in the steel industry included the addition of a new automated quality inspection line at INEXA Store Ltd., which was valued at $1.2 million.^[1] INEXA also planned to modernize the plant's rolling mills. SZ Jeklo Store d.o.o. was privatized in 1999 and acquired by INEXA Group of Sweden. Additionally, a new forging line was added at the SZ Ravne d.o.o. steel mill; the new line replaced an older unit to produce bar sections, flat sections, and other products from all grades of steel.

Important activities in the nonferrous metals industry included the planned facility expansion at Slovenia's aluminum smelter Kidricevo Talum d.o.o. that would increase production capacity to about 155,000 t of primary and secondary aluminum by 2002 from about 100,000 t in 2000. Talum obtained outside financing for the project (a new pot room) that amounted to $76 million in addition to its own capital. Talum also planned to produce 117,000 t of aluminum in 2001 (European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001, p. 14).

Cement, clays, dimension stone, and silica products were among the industrial minerals produced in Slovenia. Consumption of cement and other construction materials continued to increase, which, in turn, would further increase demand for other industrial minerals as well as for steel and other base metals. If Slovenia should join the EU, then this trend may well accelerate with developmental emphasis being placed on rail and road infrastructure.

References cited

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• Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 2000, Annual report 1999: Sarajevo, Central Bank of Bosnia and Herzegovina, 54 p.
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, 2001a, Albania--Investment profile: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, March, 32 p.
• European— — —2001b, FYR Croatia--Investment profile 2001: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, April, 25 p.
• European— — —2001c, FYR Macedonia--Investment profile 2001: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, April, 27 p.
• European— — —2001d, Slovenia--Investment profile 2001: European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, April, 28 p.
• Hope, Kerin, 2000, Macedonia's mines under threat: Financial Times [London], August 11, no. 34293, p. 26.
• Köhl, Christian, 2001, Danieli to build Bosnia and Herzegovina sites: Cahners Business Information, April 6, 1 p.
• Maguire, Sean, 2000, NATO troops take control of Kosovo Serb smelter: Reuters Ltd., August 14, 2 p.
• Metal Bulletin, 2000a, Croatia's Split steelworks awards contract for overhaul: Metal Bulletin, no. 8498, August 7, p. 19.
• Metal— — —2000b, Europe seeks to protect Montenegrin Al industry: Metal Bulletin, July 3, no. 8489, p. 4.
• Metal— — —2000c, Podgorica downstream plants are put up for sale: Metal Bulletin, no. 8491, July 10, p. 10.
• Mining Journal, 2000, Trepca smelter seized by NATO: Mining Journal, v. 335, no. 8596, August 18, p. 134.
• Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency, 2000, Proposed guarantee to Balkan Cement Ltd. for investment in A.D. Cementarnica USJE: Multilateral *Investment Guarantee Agency, March 2, MIGA/R2000-7, 10 p.
• Reuters Ltd., 2000a, Montenegro smelter to raise output 17%: Reuters Ltd., February 15, 1 p.
• Reuters— — —2000b, Repair of Trepca could take years--UN: Reuters Ltd., August 14, 2 p.
• Serbia and Montenegro Federal Statistical Office, 2001, INDEX--Monthly review of economic statistics of the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: Serbia and *Montenegro Federal Statistical Office, February, no. 2, 73 p.
• Smith, J.R., 2001, The hunt for Yugoslav riches: Washington Post, March 11, p. A1, A20. Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 2000, *Statistical yearbook of the Republic of Slovenia--Mining and manufacturing: Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia, 680 p.
• U.S. Agency for International Development, 2000a, Country profile--Bosnia and Herzegovina: U.S. Agency for International Development, August, 4 p.
• USAID— — —2000b, BIH economic update: U.S. Agency for International Development, February 25, 67 p.

TABLE 1 ALBANIA, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA, CROATIA, MACEDONIA, SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO, AND SLOVENIA: PRODUCTION OF MINERAL COMMODITIES 1/ 2/ (Metric tons unless otherwise specified)

Country and commodity		1996		1997		1998		1999		2000
ALBANIA 3/
Metals:
⁠Bauxite		--		4,454		4,128		4,624		5,000	e/
⁠Chromium:
⁠⁠Chromite, gross weight	thousand tons	236,358		157,203		150,285		79,445		80,000	e/
⁠⁠Marketable ore	do.	113,361		84,423		81,994		64,597		65,000	e/
⁠⁠Concentrate	do.	30,402		21,881		20,195		6,837		5,000	e/
Ferrochromium	do.	31,189		31,144		30,252		28,120		25,000	e/
⁠Copper:
⁠⁠Ore:
⁠⁠⁠Gross weight	do.	187,765		24,895		53,477		33,945		35,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠Concentrate		10,807		869		2,294		8,691		9,000	e/
Cu content e/		2,500		220		3,200		900	r/	900
⁠⁠Metal, primary:
Smelter (blister)		1,424		--		1,632		1,281		13,00	e/
Refined		1,544		--		1,150		3,42		350	e/
Iron and steel, metal:
Pig iron e/		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000
Crude steel		--	r/	20,533	r/	19,537		4,913	r/	180,000	e/
Rolled steel		--		43,000		42,000		8700		17,000	e/
Industrial minerals:
⁠ Cement, hydraulic e/	thousand tons	200		150		150		150		200;
⁠Clay, kaolin e/		500		500		500		500		500
⁠Dolomite e/		50,000		50,000		50,000		50,000		50,000
⁠Fertilizer, manufactured:
⁠Phosphatic		--		26,604		12,284		8,600		9,000	e/
Urea e/		3,000		3,000		3,000		3,000		3,000
⁠Nitrogen, N content of ammonia e/		15,000		10,000	r/	10,000	r/	10,000	r/	10,000
Olivinite e/		3,00		3,00		3,00		3,00		2,00
⁠Phosphate rock (12%-15% ${\ce {P2O5}}$) e/		1,000		1,000		1,000		1,000		1,000
⁠Salt e/		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000
⁠Sodium compounds, n.e.s., soda ash, calcined e/		1,00		1,00		--		--		--
Sulfuric acid e/		1,000		500	r/	500	r/	500	r/	500
Mineral fuels and related materials:
Asphalt and bitumen, natural 4/	thousand tons	19,597		16,900		15,782		16,625		17,000	e/
Coal, lignite	do.	68,936		38,900		33,000		30,000		30,000	e/
Gas, natural, gross production 5/	million cubic meters	22,698		18,271		16,551		14,167		14,000	e/
⁠Petroleum:
⁠⁠Coke		63,472		33,678		57,842		47,543		50,000	e/
⁠⁠Crude:
⁠⁠⁠Gross weight	thousand tons	448,214		359,666		364,627		323,009		320,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠Converted e/	thousand 42-gallon barrels	3,300		2,400		2,000		2,400	r/;	2,400
⁠⁠Refinery products	do.	503,995		315,072		379,131		328,875		324,000	e/
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA e/ 6/
Metals:
⁠Aluminum:
⁠⁠Bauxite		75,000		75,000		75,000		75,000		75,000
⁠⁠Alumina		50,000		40,000		40,000		40,000		40,000
⁠⁠Metal ingot, primary and secondary		15,000		15,000		15,000		15,000		15,000
⁠Iron and steel:
⁠Ore and concentrate:
⁠⁠⁠Ore, gross weight		100,000		100,000		100,000		100,000		100,000
⁠⁠⁠Ore, Fe content		35,000		35,000		35,000		35,000		36,000
⁠⁠⁠Agglomerate		40,000		40,000		40,000		40,000		40,000
⁠⁠Metal:
⁠⁠⁠Ferroalloys:
⁠⁠⁠⁠Ferrosilicon		1000		1000		1000		500	r/	500
⁠⁠⁠⁠Silicon		100		100		100		100		100
⁠⁠⁠Pig iron		100,000		100,000		100,000		100,000		100,000
⁠⁠⁠Crude steel		115,000		110,000		110,000		110,000		110,000
⁠⁠⁠Semimanufactures		100,000		100,000		90,000		90,000		95,000
⁠Lead:
⁠⁠Mineral concentrator output:
⁠⁠⁠Ore, gross weight (Pb-Zn ore)		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000
⁠⁠⁠Pb content of ores		200		200		200		200		200
⁠⁠⁠Pb concentrate		400		400		400		400		400
⁠⁠Metal, smelter, primary and secondary		100		100		100		100		100
⁠Manganese ore:
⁠⁠Gross weight		2,000		2,000		2,000		2,000		2,000
⁠⁠Mn content		500		500		500		500		500
⁠Zinc:
⁠⁠Zn content of Pb-Zn ore		300		300		300		300		300
⁠⁠Concentrate output, gross weight		600		600		600		600		600
Industrial minerals:
⁠Asbestos, all kinds		500		500		500		500		500
⁠Barite concentrate		2,000		2,000		2,000		2,000		2,000
⁠Cement thousand tons		150		200		300		300		300
⁠Clays:
⁠⁠Bentonite		800		800		800		800		800
⁠⁠Ceramic clay, crude		20,000		20,000		20,000		20,000		20,000
⁠⁠Kaolin:
⁠⁠⁠Crude		3,000		3,000		3,000		3,000		3,000
⁠⁠⁠Calcined		1,500		1,500		1,500		1,500		1,500
⁠Gypsum:
⁠⁠⁠Crude		30,000		30,000		30,000		30,000		30,000
⁠⁠⁠Calcined		3,000		3,000		3,000		3,000		3,000
⁠Lime	⁠thousand tons	50		50		50		50		50
⁠Magnesite, crude		2,000		2,000		2,000		2,000		2,000
⁠Nitrogen, N content of ammonia		500		500		500		500		500
⁠Glass sand		50,000		50,000		50,000		50,000		50,000
⁠Salt, all sources		50,000		50,000		50,000		50,000		50,000
⁠Sand and gravel, excluding glass sand	thousand cubic meters	500		500		500		500		500
⁠Sodium compounds:
⁠⁠Soda ash		10,000		5,000		5,000		5,000		5,000
⁠⁠Caustic soda		10,000		5,000		5,000		5,000		5,000
⁠⁠Sodium bicarbonate		1,000		500		500		500		500
⁠Stone, excluding quartz and quartzite, dimension, crude:
⁠⁠Ornamental	square meters	20,000		20,000		20,000		20,000		20,000
⁠⁠Other	cubic meters	2,000		2,000		2,000		2,000		2,000
⁠⁠Crushed and brown, n.e.s.	thousand cubic meters	500		500		500		500		500
⁠Sulfur, byproduct of metallurgy	thousand tons	1		1		1		1		1
Mineral fuels and related materials:
⁠⁠Brown coal and lignite	do.	1,808	7/	1,810	7/	1,764	7/	1,800		1,800
⁠⁠Petroleum refinery products	thousand 42-gallon barrels	--		500		500		500		500
⁠⁠⁠CROATIA 6/
Metals:
⁠Aluminum:
⁠⁠Metal, ingot, primary and secondary		32,959		17,800		16,112	r/	14,461	r/	14,403
⁠⁠Alloys		5,257		3,354		2,191		843		977
⁠⁠Semimanufactures (rolled)		15,107		21,166		26,148		29,465		30,161
⁠Iron and steel, metal:
⁠⁠Ferrochromium		10,559	r/	24,231		11,861	r/	--		15,753
⁠⁠Steel, crude, from electric furnaces		45,752		68,733		104,854		74,429	r/	68,360
Industrial minerals:
⁠Cement thousand tons		1,842		2,134		2,294		2,712		2,852
⁠Clays:
⁠⁠Bentonite		9,728		7,331		7,581		8,441		10,013
⁠⁠Ceramic clay		10,000	e/	10,000	e/	5,022		6,000		6,100	e/
⁠⁠Fire clay, crude e/		5,000		5,000		5,000		5,000		5,500
Gypsum:
Crude		86,060		102,470		107,800	r/	137,991		150,765
Calcined		--		1,260		1,259		1,236		1,176
Lime thousand tons		192		208		216		198		220
Nitrogen, N content of ammonia do.		307		331		248		306	r/	328
Pumice and related materials, volcanic tuff do.		64		63		38		55		38
Quartz, quartzite, glass sand		43,508		97,563		112,018	r/	99,078	r/	95,636
Salt, all sources		18,820		16,620		24,050	r/	18,373	r/	33,668
Sand and gravel, excluding glass sand thousand cubic meters		1,401		3,853		4,316		3,644		3,480
Stone, excluding quartz and quartzite, dimension, crude:
Ornamental square meters		1,029,437		1,130,728		1,133,405		1,457,334	r/	608,707
Crushed and brown, n.e.s. thousand cubic meters		9,099		10,520		11,459		11,871		11,000	e/
Other e/ cubic meters		20,000		20,000		20,000		20,000		25,000
Sulfur, byproduct of metallurgy e/		15,000		15,000		15,000		15,000		15,000
Mineral fuels and related materials:
Carbon, black		26,735		24,124		22,165		17,589		20,029
Coal, bituminous thousand tons		64		49		51		15	r/	--
Gas, natural, gross production million cubic meters		1,786		1,717		1,570		1,567		1,768
Petroleum:	As reported thousand tons	1,469		1,496		1,535	r/	1,618	r/
Converted e/ thousand 42-gallon barrels		11,000		11,000		10,400		9,600		10,300
Refinery products		4,731,974		5,056,289		5,053,000		5,438,000		5,700,000
MACEDONIA e/ 6/
Metals:
Aluminum, metal, ingot, primary and secondary		4,000		4,000		5,850	7/	5,000		4,500
Cadmium, smelter output kilograms		85	4/	50	/r	50	r/	50	r/	50
Chromite:
Ore, gross weight		5,000		5,000		--		--		--
Concentrate (produced largely from imported ores)		3,000		3,000		--		--		--
Copper, mine and concentrate output:
Ore:
Gross weight thousand tons		2,000		2,000		2,000		2,000		2,000
Cu content		8,484	4/	8,000		9,100		10,000	r/	10,000
Concentrate:
Gross weight		20,000		20,000		20,000		20,000		20,000
Cu content		13,500		13,000		9,100		9,000		9,000
Gold	kilograms	752	4/	650		700		750	r/	750
Iron and steel:
Iron ore:
Gross weight		20,000		20,000		20,000		20,000		20,000
Fe content of ore		1,000		1,000		1,000		1,000		1,000
Concentrate		15,000		15,000		15,000		15,000		15,000
Pellets		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000
Agglomerate		5,000		5,000		5,000		5,000		5,000
Metal:
Ferroalloys:
Ferrochromium, low C		3,780	7/	460	7/	--	/7	--	7/	--
Ferronickel (38% Ni), gross weight		7,900		7,900		9,500		5,000		--
Ferrosilicon		57,220		55,000		96,700		63,000		65,000
Silicon		1,000		1,000		1,000	r/	--		--
Total		69,900		64,400		107,200	r/ 7/	68,000	r/ 7/	65,000
Steel, crude		27,000		30,000		--		-- 7/		--
Semimanufactures, hot rolled plate		109,000	r/ 7/	183,700	r/ 7/	251,081		159,643	r/ 7/	244,044	7/
Lead:
Mine output:
Ore, gross weight (Pb-Zn ore)		846,244	7/	850,000		867,182	7/	670,000		850,000
Pb content		27,000		28,000		26,000		26,000	7/	25,000
Concentrate, gross weight		16,885	7/	17,000		14,328	7/	12,300	r/ 7/	16,500		⁠⁠Primary and secondary:
⁠⁠⁠Smelter		23,000	r/	20,000		20,000		20,000		20,000
⁠⁠⁠Refined		23,600	r/	26,046	r/ 7/	28,415	7/	19,738	r/ 7/	22,900
⁠Nickel, metal, Ni content of FeNi		3,000		5,300		5,800		1,900	7/	--
⁠Silver kilograms		20,025	r/ 7/	18,760	r/ 7/	20,000		22,000	r/	20,000
⁠Zinc:
⁠⁠Concentrate		15,017	7/	15,800	r/	14,328	7/	8,000		12,200
⁠⁠Metal, refined, primary and secondary:
⁠⁠⁠Smelter		7,000		7,000		7,000		7,000		7,000
⁠⁠⁠Electrolytic		38,000		53,000		57,162	7/	48,000	7/	62,800
Industrial minerals:
⁠Cement thousand tons		491	7/	500	7/	461	7/	520	7/	585
⁠Clays, bentonite		30,000		30,000		30,000		30,000		30,000
⁠Diatomite		5,000		5,000		5,000		5,000		5,000
⁠Feldspar		--		--		8,137	7/	11,000		10,000
⁠Gypsum:
⁠⁠Crude		25,000		25,000		25,000		25,000		25,000
⁠⁠Calcined		5,000		5,000		5,000		5,000		5,000
⁠Lime		20,000		10,000		924		--	7/	1,000
⁠Pumice and related materials, volcanic tuff		75,000		100,000		100,000		150,000		150,000
⁠Sand and gravel, excluding glass sand	thousand cubic meters	130		130		130		150	r/	150
⁠Stone, excluding quartz and quartzite, dimension, crude:
⁠⁠Ornamental	square meters	186,783	7/	190,000		190,000		200,000	r/	200,000
⁠⁠Crushed and brown, n.e.s.	thousand cubic meters	400		400		400		400		400
⁠⁠Other	cubic meters	10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000
⁠Sulfur, byproduct of metallurgy	thousand tons	6		6		6		6		6
⁠Talc:
⁠⁠Crude		10,000		10,000		10,000		9,000	r/	10,000
⁠⁠Washed		7,000		7,000		7,000		7,000		7,000
Mineral fuels and related materials:
⁠Coal, lignite	thousand tons	7,887	7/	7,165	7/	7,500		7,500		7,000
⁠Petroleum refinery products	thousand 42-gallon barrels	6,000		6,000		6,000		6,000		6,000
SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO 8/
Metals:
⁠Aluminum:
⁠⁠Gross weight:
⁠⁠⁠Alumina, calcined		186,354		160,000		152,619		156,012		185,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠Bauxite		323,000		470,000		226,000		500,000		630,000
⁠⁠Metal ingot, primary and secondary		37,346		65,743		60,090		72,505		88,151
⁠Antimony, metal		(9/)		--		--		--		--
⁠Bismuth, metal kilograms		21		20	e/	430		--		--
⁠Cadmium do.		79,195		80,000	e/	17,320		--		--
⁠Copper:
⁠⁠Mine and concentrator output:
⁠⁠⁠Ore:
⁠⁠⁠⁠Gross weight thousand tons		20,026		20,507		19,939		15,975		12,896
⁠⁠⁠⁠Cu content		82,526		82,500		84,627		62,777		52,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠Concentrate:
⁠⁠⁠⁠Gross weight		337,861		361,000		372,103		272,172		200,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠⁠Cu content		69,500		73,600		70,900	e/	51,700		41,000	e/
⁠⁠Metal, primary:
⁠⁠⁠Blister and anodes:
⁠⁠⁠⁠Primary		59,940		59,000	e/	101,000		54,000		45,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠⁠Remelted		65,287		60,000	e/	101,925		49,782		45,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Total		125,227		119,000	e/	202,925		103,782		90,000
⁠⁠⁠Refined:
⁠⁠⁠⁠Primary		59,940		70,534		54,000		48,000		45,632
⁠⁠⁠⁠Remelted		44,060		43,000		40,396		1,902		40,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Total		104,000		113,534		94,396		49,902		85,600	e/
⁠Gold, refined	kilograms
⁠Iron and steel:		4,000		4,000		2,684		1,260		1,300
⁠⁠Ore and concentrate, agglomerate		50,000	e/	25,000		5,125		2,088		2,000	e/
⁠⁠Metal:
⁠⁠⁠Ferroalloys, ferronickel		6,501		6,500	e/	1,215		--		--
⁠⁠⁠Pig iron		535,000		907,000		825,916		134,882		563,000
⁠⁠⁠Crude steel		679,000		979,000		948,314		226,240		682,000
⁠⁠⁠Semimanufactures		860,000		1,460,000		1,740,000		296,300		739,000
⁠Lead:
⁠⁠⁠Mine and concentrator output:
⁠⁠⁠Ore:
⁠⁠⁠Gross weight (Pb-Zn ore)		856,468		1,049,000		1,248,852		348,605		602,000
⁠⁠⁠Pb content		22,327		27,000	e/	24,750		4,553		12,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠Concentrate:
⁠⁠⁠Gross weight		29,009		31,000	e/	32,691		6,536		25,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠Pb content		10,000		11,000		12,000		3,200		9,000
⁠⁠⁠Metal, primary and secondary:
⁠⁠⁠Smelter		44,600		41,000		35,576		9,000	r/	18,000
⁠⁠⁠Refined		30,317		23,632		23,756		3,690		1,242
⁠⁠⁠Magnesium, metal		2,500	e/	2,500	r/ e/	3,965		1,203		1,200
⁠⁠⁠Nickel, metal, Ni content of FeNi		2,556		2,440		466		--		--
⁠⁠⁠Platinum-group metals:
⁠⁠⁠Palladium	kilograms	56		55	e/	54		21		21	e/
⁠⁠⁠Platinum	do.	3		3	e/	3		3		3	e/
⁠⁠⁠Selenium	do.	37,840		38,000	e/	40,866		20,080		20,000	e/
⁠Silver	do.	68,805		42,640		34,474		7,643	r/	7,645
⁠Zinc:
⁠⁠Zn content:
⁠⁠⁠Pb-Zn ore		21,765		25,000	e/	20,285		4,329		12,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠Concentrate		12,000		13,000		14,000		5,000	e/	11,000	e/
⁠⁠Concentrator output, gross weight		37,012		35,000	e/	40,530		10,286		23,000	e/
⁠⁠Refined		29,954		29,454		14,415		683	r/	8,291
Industrial minerals:
⁠Asbestos, all kinds		509		765		1,452		361		563
⁠Cement thousand tons		2,205		2,011		2,253		1,575		2,117
⁠Clays:
⁠⁠Bentonite		95		100	e/	68		77		75	e/
⁠⁠Ceramic clay		36,021		35,000	e/	40,033		29,420		30,000	e/
⁠⁠Fire clay:
⁠⁠⁠Crude		43,053		51,000		45,319		25,766		30,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠Calcined e/		8,000		10,000		10,000		4,000		10,000
⁠⁠Kaolin:
⁠⁠⁠Crude		60,000	e/	60,000	e/	75,092		40,321		40,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠Washed e/		6,000		6,000		6,000		4,000		4,000
⁠Feldspar, crude		4,801		4,880		4,280		3,453		3,000	e/
⁠Gypsum, crude		44,257		32,124		27,778		33,962		30,000	e/
⁠Lime	thousand tons	456		460		480		381		497
⁠Magnesite:
⁠⁠Crude	do.	89		98		949		31		40
⁠⁠Caustic calcined		10,601		6,327		7,044		2,000		3,000	e/
⁠Mica, all grades		200	e/	200	e/	247		229		230
⁠Nitrogen, N content of ammonia		235,070		235,000		166,152		75,788		150,000	e/
⁠Pumice and related materials, volcanic tuff		120,135		120,000	e/	120,000		50,000		120,000	e/
⁠Quartz sand thousand tons		361		366		353		253		418
⁠Salt, all sources		21,646		28,000		78,148		63,834		78,277
⁠Sand and gravel, excluding glass sand thousand cubic meters		3,291		2,351		3,060		2,006		2,000
⁠Sodium compounds:
⁠⁠Caustic soda		20,214		64,713		63,344		13,720		7,415
⁠⁠Sodium sulfate		7,000	e/	5,000		1,896		1,321		800	e/
⁠Stone, excluding quartz and quartzite, dimension, crude:
⁠⁠Ornamental	square meters	219,000		206,000		258,000		182,000		20,000	e/
⁠⁠Crushed and brown, n.e.s.	thousand cubic meters	2,263		2,665		3,085		1,937		3,000	e/
⁠⁠Other, stone blocks	cubic meters	12,196		9,817		1,630		786		1,000	e/
⁠⁠Sulfur, byproduct: e/
⁠⁠⁠Metallurgy	thousand tons	110		100		100		100		100
⁠⁠⁠Petroleum	do.	1		1		1		1		1
⁠⁠⁠⁠Total	do.	111		101		101		101		101
Mineral fuels and related materials:
⁠Coal:
⁠⁠Bituminous	thousand tons	63		92		105		49		88
⁠⁠Brown	do.	539		512		390		413		398
⁠⁠Lignite	do.	37,828		42,313		43,577		30,967		33,638
⁠⁠Total	do.	38,430		42,917		44,072		31,429		34,124
⁠Gas, natural, gross production	million cubic meters	671		688		731	r/	679	r/	729
⁠Petroleum:
⁠⁠Crude:
⁠⁠⁠Gross weight	thousand tons	1,030		979		913		705		805
⁠⁠⁠Converted e/	thousand 42-gallon barrels	7,600		7,500		6,800		5,200		6,000	4/
⁠⁠Refinery products	thousand tons	1,800	r/	3,167	r/	2,549	r/	1,047	r/	1,100	e/
SLOVENIA 6/
Metals:
⁠Aluminum, metal, ingot, primary and secondary		59,486		74,400		73,803	r/	77,200	r/ e/	100,000
⁠Iron and steel, metal:
⁠⁠Ferroalloys:
⁠⁠⁠Ferrochromium		23,142		9,232		10,621		560		600
⁠⁠⁠Ferrosilicocalcium e/		200		200		200		200		200
⁠⁠⁠Ferrosilicon e/		10,000		10,000		10,000		8,000		9,000
⁠⁠Steel, crude, from electric furnaces		328,000		372,700		405,210		405,000		450,000
⁠⁠Semimanufactures		175,000		150,000		150,000		100,000	e/	100,000
⁠Lead, metal:
⁠⁠Primary and secondary:
⁠⁠⁠Smelter e/		6,000		7,000		7,000		5,800	r/	6,000
⁠⁠⁠Refined		5,601		15,000		14,000		15,000		15,000	e/
⁠⁠⁠Semimanufactures, rolled		241		300		300		300	e/	300	e/
Industrial minerals:
⁠Cement	thousand tons	1,026		1,113		1,149		1,224	r/	1,300
⁠Clays:
⁠⁠Ceramic clay, crude e/		2,500		2,500		2,500		2,500		2,500
⁠⁠Fire clay		600		--		--		--	e/	--	e/
⁠⁠Kaolin: e/
⁠⁠⁠Crude		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000
⁠⁠⁠Washed		4,000		4,000		4,000		4,000		4,000
⁠Lime	thousand tons	136		140		150		150	e/	150	e/
⁠Pumice and related materials, volcanic tuff e/		40,000		40,000		40,000		40,000		40,000
⁠Quartz, quartzite, glass sand: e/
⁠Quartz and quartzite		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000		10,000
⁠Glass sand		200,000		200,000		200,000		200,000		200,000
⁠⁠⁠Total		210,000		210,000		210,000		210,000		210,000
⁠Salt, all sources		4,033		5,000		5,000		5,000		5,000
⁠Sand and gravel, excluding glass sand thousand tons		10,498		10,298		10,076		12,637	r/	14,000
⁠Stone, excluding quartz and quartzite, crude: e/
⁠⁠Dimension		93,000		82,000		91,000		104,000		105,000
⁠⁠Other cubic meters		3,000		3,000		3,000		3,000		3,000
Mineral fuels and related materials:
⁠Coal:
⁠⁠Brown	thousand tons	841		812		827		758	r/	800
⁠⁠Lignite	do.	3,937		4,163		4,100	r/	3,804	r/	3,900
⁠⁠Gas, natural, gross production thousand cubic meters		12,840		12,100		12,500		12,500	e/	12,500	e/
⁠⁠Petroleum, crude	thousand tons	1,400		1,100		900		100		100	e/
e/ Estimated. r/ Revised. -- Zero. 1/ Estimated data are rounded to no more than three significant digits; may not add totals shown. 2/ Table includes data available through May 18, 2001. 3/ In addition to commodities listed, a variety of industrial minerals and construction materials (common clay, quartz, sand and gravel, stone, and titanomagnesite) are produced; output is not reported quantitatively, and available information is inadequate to make reliable estimates of output levels. 4/ Includes asphalt and bitumen produced at petroleum refineries. 5/ Separate data on marketable production are not available, but gross and marketed output are regarded as being nearly equal. 6/ In addition to the commodities listed, common clay was also produced, but available information was inadequate to make reliable estimates of output. 7/ Reported figure. 8/ In addition to the commodities listed, common clay and diatomite are also produced, but available information was inadequate to make reliable estimates of output.

TABLE 2
ALBANIA: STRUCTURE OF THE MINERAL INDUSTRY IN 2000 1/
(Thousand metric tons unless otherwise specified)

Commodity		Location of main facilities (all state-owned)	Annual capacity
Cement		Elbasan, 32 kilometers southeast of Tirana; Kruje, 20 kilometers northwest of Tirana; Shkoder, 85 kilometers northwest of Tirana; and Vlore, southwest of Tirana	1,200
Chromite		Bater (including Bater I and II and Martanesh), 40 kilometers northwest of Tirana	450
⁠Do.		Bulquize (including Bulquize south, Fush, Terrnove, and Todo Maco), 35 kilometers northwest of Tirana	450
⁠Do.		Kalimash, 60 kilometers north of Tirana	250
⁠Do.		Kam, 70 kilometers north of Tirana	100
⁠Do.		Klos, 20 kilometers northeast of Tirana	50
⁠Do.		Pogradec (including Katjiel, Memelisht, Pojske, Pishkash, and Prrenjas), 50 kilometers east of Tirana	100
Ferrochromium		Burrel, 35 kilometers northeast of Tirana	40
⁠Do.		Elbasan, 32 kilometers southeast of Tirana	36
Copper:
⁠Ore		Fushe-Arrez, 80 kilometers north of Tirana	350
⁠⁠Do.		Gjejan, 100 kilometers northeast of Tirana	150
⁠⁠Do.		Golaj (including Nikoliq and Pus), 120 kilometers northeast of Tirana	150
⁠⁠Do.		Kurbnesh-Perlat, 55 kilometers northeast of Tirana	100
⁠⁠Do.		Rehove, 110 kilometers southeast of Tirana	100
⁠⁠Do.		Reps (including Gurch, Lajo, Spac, and Thurr), 55 kilometers north of Tirana	350
⁠⁠Do.		Rreshen, 50 kilometers north of Tirana	50
⁠⁠Do.		Shkoder (including Palaj, Karma I and II), 85 kilometers northwest of Tirana	100
⁠Smelter		Kukes, 110 kilometers northeast of Tirana	6
⁠⁠Do.		Lac, 35 kilometers northwest of Tirana	7
⁠⁠Do.		Rubik, 50 kilometers north of Tirana	4
Iron ore		Prrenjas (Bushtrica, Prrenjas, Skorska I and II), 70 kilometers southeast of Tirana	650
⁠Do.		Guri i Kuq (including Cervenake, Grasishta, Guri i Kuq, Hudenisht and Gun Perfjrgjur), 25 kilometers east of Tirana	500
Steel		"Steel of the Party" Metallurgical Combine at Elbasan	150
Nickel, smelter		Elbasan	6
Coal, lignite		Maneze, Mezes, and Valias Mines in Tirana Durres area; Krabe Mine, 20 kilometers southeast of Tirana; Alarup and Cervnake Mines, in Pogradec area, 80 kilometers southeast of Tirana; Mborje-Drenove Mine in Korce area, 85 kilometers southwest of Tirana; and Memaliaj Mine in Tepelene area, 110 kilometers south of Tirana	2,500
Natural gas	million cubic feet	Gasfields on southwest Albania between Ballsh and Fier	16,000
Petroleum:
⁠Crude	42-gallon barrels per day	Oilfields at Marineze, Ballsh, Shqisht, Patos, Kucova, Gorrisht, and others	35,000
⁠Refined	do.	Refineries: Ballsh, Cerrik, Fier, and Stalin	33,000

1/ A substantial portion of these enterprises have been operating significantly below capacity during the transition to a market economy; the capacities provided in this table only represent the latest available information and may not show the true status of these enterprises.

TABLE 3
BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA: STRUCTURE OF THE MINERAL INDUSTRY IN 2000
(Thousand metric tons unless otherwise specified)

Commodity		Major operating companies	Location of main facilities	Annual capacity
Alumina		Energoinvest	Plants at Birac-Zvornik	600
⁠Do.		do	Plant at Mostar	280
Aluminum		do.	Smelter at Mostar	92
Bauxite		do.	Mines at Vlasenica, Jajce, Bosanska Krupa, Posusje, Listica, Citluk, and other locations.	2,000
Coal:
⁠Brown		SOUR Titovi Rudnici Uglja, Tuzla	Mines in BiH	12,000
⁠Lignite		do.	do.	7,000
Cement		Gik Hidrogradnja, Tvornica Cementa BiH	Plant at Kakanj	650
Ferroalloys		Elktrobosna, Elektrohemijska i Eletrotermijska Industrija	Plant at Jajce	80
Iron ore		Rudarsko Metalurski Kombinat Zenica	Mines at Vares, Ljubija, and Radovan	5,000
Lead-zinc ore		Energoinvest	Mine and mill at Srebrenica	300
Manganese ore		Mangan-Energoinvest	Mine and concentrator at Buzim	100
Petroleum:
⁠Refined	thousand barrels per day	Energoinvest: Rafinerija Nafte Bosanski Brod	Refinery at Bosanski Brod	100
Pig iron		Rudarsko metalurski Kombinat Zenica (RMK Zenica)	4 blast furnaces at Zenica	2,250
⁠Do.		do.	2 blast furnaces at Vares	100
⁠Do.		do.	Electric reduction furnaces at Iljas	100
Salt	cubic meters per year	Hemijski Kombinat "Sodaso," Rudnik Soli i Solni Bunari	Rock salt mines at Tusanj	120,000
⁠Do.	do.	do.	Production from brine at Tuzla	2,000,000
Steel, crude		Rudarsko Metalurski Kombinat Zenica	Plant at Zenica	2060

TABLE 4,br />CROATIA: STRUCTURE OF THE MINERALS INDUSTRY IN 2000
(Thousand metric tons unless otherwise specified)

Commodity		Major operating companies	Location of main facilities	Annual capacity
Alumina		Jadral, Jadranski Aluminijum	Jadral Alumina Plant	150
Aluminum		Boris Kidric Tvornica Lakih Metala	Smelter at Sibenik	75
⁠Do.		Top-Tvornica Olovni i Aluminjskikh	Semimanufactures producer at Savska	NA
Bauxite		Jadral, Jadranski Aluminijum	Mines in at Obrovac, Drnis, and other locations	450
Coal, bituminous		Istarski Ugljenokopi Rasa	Mines at Labin and Potpican	500
Cement		Dalmacija Cement	Sv. Jurai plant at Kastel Sucurac	1,300
⁠Do.		do.	Sv. Kajo plant at Solin	750
⁠Do.		do.	Majdan plant at Solin Majdan	780
⁠Do.		Istra Cement International D.D.	Plant at Pula	70
⁠Do.		Tvornica Cementa Koromacno	Plant at Koromacno	420
⁠Do.		Tvornica Cementa Umag D.D.	Cement plant at Umag	480
⁠Do.		Nasicecement D.D.	Nacise plant at Tajnovac	840
Natural gas	style="border-bottom:1px solid black;" million cubic feet	do.	Main natural gasfields at Bogsic Lug, and Molve	70,000
Petroleum:
⁠Crude	thousand barrels per day	Industrija Nafted.d. Zagreb (INA)	Oilfields in Croatia and Slovenia include Benicanci, Zutica, Struzec, Ivanic Grad, and Lendava	70
⁠Do.	do.	do.	Refineries at Urinj and Rijeka	160
⁠Do.	do.	do.	Refinery at Sisak	150
Pig iron		Metalurski Kombinat Zeljezara Sisak	Two blast furnaces at Sisak	235
Salt	cubic meters	Solana Pag, Solana Ante Festin	Marine salt: Pag Island	13
Steel, crude		SP MK Zeljezare Sisak d.d.	Plant at Sisak	401
⁠Do.		Jadranska Zelejzara Split	Plant at Split	120
NA Not available.

TABLE 5
MACEDONIA: STRUCTURE OF THE MINERAL INDUSTRY IN 2000
(Thousand metric tons unless otherwise specified)

Commodity		Major operating companies	Location of main facilities	Annual capacity e/
Cement		Azbestcementa "Usje" Preduzece za Proizvodnju Cementa	Plant at Skopje	2,190
Chromite, concentrate		Jugohrom, Hemijsko-Elektrometakurski Kombinat (HEK)	Concentrator at Radusa	150
Copper ore		Bucim, Rabotna Organizacija za Rudarstvo i Metalurgija za Baker	Mine and mill at Bucim, near Radovis	7,000
Ferroalloys		Jugohrom, Hemijsko-Elektrometalurski Kombinat (HEK)-Jegunovce	Plant at Jegunovce	80
Iron ore		Skopje, Rudnici i Zeljezarnica Skopje	Mines at Tajmiste, Demir Hisar, and Damjan	1,000
Lead-zinc ore		Prepobotuvacki, Kombinat Zletovo-Sasa: Sase, Rudnici za Olovo i Cink	Mine and mill near Kamenica |700Do. Zletovo, Rudnici za Olovo i Cink Mine and mill near Probistip	300
Lead metal		Zletovo, Topilnica za Cink i Olovo	Imperial smelter at Titov Veles	40
Do.		do.	Refinery at Titov Veles	40
Nickel: 1/
⁠Ore		Feni-Rudnici i Industrija za Nikel, Celik i Antimon	Mine and opencast mine near Kavadarci	2,300
⁠Metal		do.	Ferronickel plant at Kavadarci	161
Pig iron		Skopje, Rudnici i Zeljezarnica Skopje	Five Elkem electric furances at Skopje	430
Steel, crude		do.	Plant at Skopje	980
Zinc metal		Zletovo, Topilnica za Cink i Olovo	Imperial Smelter plant and refinery at Titov Veles	65
e/ Estimated. 1/ Nickel in ferronickel.

TABLE 6
SERBIA AND MONTENEGRO: STRUCTURE OF THE MINERAL INDUSTRY IN 2000
(Thousand of metric tons unless otherwise specified)

Commodity		Major operating companies	Location of main facilities	Annual capcity.
Alumina		Kombinat Aluminijuma Titograd	Plant at Titograd, Montenegro	200.
Aluminum		do.	Smelter at Titograd, Montenegro	100.
Antimony, ores and concentrates		Zajaca, Rudarsko Tapionicarski Bazen	Mines and mills near Zajaca, Serbia	80.
⁠Do.		do.	Mines and mill at Rajiceva Gora, Serbia	300.
Antimony, metal		do.	Smelter at Zajaca, Serbia	4
Bauxite		Rudnici Boksita, Niksic	Mines in Montenegro at Kutsko Brdo, Zagrad, Biocki Stan, Durakov Dol, and other locations	650
Coal:
⁠Bituminous		Ibarski Rudnici Kamenog Uglja	Mines at Jarando and Usce, near Baljevac na Ibru, Serbia	250
⁠Lignite		SOUR Kolubara, Rudarsko Energetsko Industrijski Kombinat, RO	Opencast mines: Polje B and Polje D	10,000
⁠⁠Do.		Kolubara Povrsinski Kopovi	Tamnavski Kopovi (also known as Kolubarski Rudnici Lignita), near Vreoci, Serbia	14,000
⁠⁠Do.		SOUR Elektroprivreda Kosova, RO Kosovo, Proizvodnja Separacija i Transport Uglja	Opencast mines at Dobro Selo and Belacevac, near Obilic, Serbia	2,000
Cement		Becinska Fabrika Cementa	Plant at Beocin, Serbia	2031
⁠Do.		Fabrika Cementa Novi	Plant at Popovac, Serbia	1613
Copper		Popovac Rudarsko Topionicki Bazen Bor	Smelter at Bor, Serbia	180
⁠Do.		do.	Electrolytic refinery at Bor, Serbia	180.
⁠Do.		do.	Mine and mill at Bor, Serbia	5,000 ore.
⁠Do.		do.	Mine and mill at Majdanpek, Serbia Mine and mill at Veliki Krivelj, Serbia	15,000 ore.
⁠Do.		do.	Mine and mill at Veliki Krivelj, Serbia	8,000 ore.
Lead-zinc ore		Rudarsko-Metalursko-Hemijski Kombinat za Olovo i Cink Trepca	Mines at Ajvalija, Kopanaonik, Badovac; Trepca, Trepca, Blagodat, Lece; Veliki Majdan, Tisovak; and Kisnica, Rudnik, Suplja Stijena	5000
⁠Do.		Rudarsko-Metalursko-Hemijski Kombinat za Olovo i Cink Trepca	Mills at Kriva Feja, Lece, Rudnik, Badovac, Leposavic, Zvecan, and Maravce, Suplja Stijena	3,160.

1. Where necessary, values have been converted from German deutsche marks (DM) to U.S. dollars (US$) at the rate of DM1.00=US$0.48.