An unnamed Chinese company has shown interest in purchasing the coal mine in Berane, a northeastern town in Montenegro, which has been inactive for several years, according to local media reports. Representatives from the Chinese firm have already visited Berane for discussions regarding the potential acquisition, though the current status of the negotiations remains unclear, as per broadcaster RTCG.
Nikola Scekic, head of the mining company, stated, “It is about a serious company that has expressed interest in our mine. We hope that the further talks will result in a good decision.” The Berane coal mine, owned by Serbia-registered company Metalfer, halted production in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, the mine has been without electricity since November 2022 due to a power substation failure.
In January, Montenegro’s energy ministry announced its goal to restart production at the mine, promising to conduct an economic analysis to determine the best approach. Restarting operations will require new investments and strategic partnerships, with the government needing to evaluate both existing and potential production capacities, energy minister Sasa Mujovic stated.
At its peak, the Berane coal mine employed 150 workers and supported a supply chain of 20 smaller firms, as noted by RTCG.
