INTERVIEW
Committed To Deliver MARNIE FINLAYSON General Manager, Rio Sava Exploration d.o.o.
A new mineral, a new process technology and a new market all require careful consideration in order for Jadar to become an enduring, sustainable operation. We do our best to ensure our stakeholders that what we are doing, and how we are doing it, will benefit the local economy, provide jobs, develop skills and contribute to Serbian society
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am really proud that the previous phase of our project was concluded in the first quarter of 2020, under lockdown conditions, says Marnie Finlayson, General Manager of Rio Sava Exploration d.o.o. The majority of Rio Tinto employees were working remotely at the time, yet, as our interlocutor explains, “we were able to utilise technology and our strong team connections to ensure that the work was completed to a high standard, and that the reviews and approval meetings were completed virtually, and obviously successfully”. ► Rio Tinto recently approved an additional investment of almost $200 million to progress to the next stage of the development of the lithium-borate Jadar project in Serbia. What does this mean?
– It typically takes over a decade for a world-class Greenfield underground project of this size to reach the operational stage, as we work through the technical challenges of mining and processing the material. Jadar was a Rio Tinto discovery in 2004 and we are very happy to announce that we are moving on to the feasibility phase, with the Rio Tinto board’s decision to allocate an additional $200m to advance the Jadar project. The future development of the Jadar project would include an underground mine, industrial processing facility and all associated infrastructure. In the Feasibility Study we are focused on the completion of detailed engineering designs, finalising the Elaborate on Reserves in accordance with the Serbian mineral code, which will be submitted to the ministry, and progressing the permitting and land acquisition in accordance with the project schedule. 36
FOREIGN INVESTORS COUNCIL 2020
Our focus remains on delivering the Jadar project in cooperation with the Government of Serbia in a manner that's safe and sustainable both for the community and for our company.
► What are your thoughts about the mining industry in Serbia? Given that we've witnessed its revival over the past several years, is there a chance for Serbia to return to the global mining map that it was once a significant part of? – Definitely yes. The mining industry in Serbia is indeed experiencing a revival. Minister Antić stated recently that mining is one of the most dynamic parts of the Serbian economy and that it had 3.8% growth in production in the first six months of this year. This tells us that the mining industry and the mining business in Serbia are developing and positioned for additional growth.
