Bauxite

669 926

Lignite

13 736 665

Zinc

7 690

Overview

The country has significant reserves of brown coal and lignite.  The official estimates on total reserves of coal in BiH are around 5 billion metric tons, out of which the exploitation reserves are estimated to be around 2 billion metric tons. Reserves of iron ore deposits are estimated at 653 million metric tons; zinc and lead at 56 million metric tons; and bauxite at 120 million metric tons.  There are two aluminum and aluminum oxide processing plants situated near bauxite mining operations.  Annual coal production is approximately 15 million metric tons, both via open pits and casts.

Leading Sub-Sectors

Heavy mining equipment, including bulldozers, tractors, excavators, surface mining conveyor systems, and heavy trucks.

Opportunities

The Federation Government consolidated seven coal mines under the new ownership of Elektroprivreda BiH.  The government hopes that this will pave the way for significant investments in the rehabilitation of those seven mines. Elektroprivreda BiH has committed to investing $497 million in the long term in rehabilitation of the mines, primarily through heavy mining equipment procurement and upgrade that should increase the coal mines’ efficiencies. The procurement process has been slow due to lack of available funds and as of this report’s publication, most of the planned equipment has not been purchased.

Large bauxite deposits in operating mines (unknown reserves), small bauxite deposits of 34Mt Probable ore reserves and many bauxite deposits of unknown size and reserves ;

− Medium to very large sized Fe-ore deposits of 130 Mt (either Proved or Probable reserves);

− Large to very large Pb-Zn deposits of 18Mt Proved and 7Mt Probable ore reserves;

− 3 Mt Proved Co ore reserves and some Sb;

− Zeolites (unknown reserves), bentonites, kaolin and gypsum;

− Lignite.

Development of the Jasenica-Lušci Palanka bauxites (short term goal, 0-5 years): Additional exploration with the use of innovative techniques (i.e. remote sensing) to assess the geological potential; Performing scoping and pre-feasibility studies based on the results of exploration works to examine the viability of bauxites extraction and processing.

− Development of zeolites (short term goal, 0-5 years): Additional exploration with the use of innovative techniques to assess the geological potential and estimate reserves according to International standards; Conducting a prefeasibility study based on the results of exploration works to examine the viability of zeolites exploitation.