Serbia is investing 450 million euro ($487.5 million) in new equipment at the Kolubara coal mine to boost its production capacity, the energy ministry announced. The investment will also fund the launch of replacement production capacities for coal extraction from surface mines and the construction of two excavators and supporting systems at the Kolubara mine, according to a press release issued by the ministry on Tuesday.
The introduction of the new systems is expected to increase coal production by an additional 16 to 19 million cubic meters annually, said energy minister Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic. This year, coal production at the Kolubara level has already seen a 3% increase compared to the previous year, she added.
The Kolubara mining complex contributes to 70% of Serbia’s lignite output, according to the website of the state-owned energy producer Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS).
