Tuesday, April 02, 2025.
Representatives of the local communities of Radinac, Ralja and Vranovo visited HBIS Serbia for a traditional meeting, starting with a tour of the ore yard site. They were presented with the progress in the construction of a protective wall around the ore storage, which reduces diffuse emissions and improves environmental protection.
Milovan Tasić, General Manager of Engineering and Investments, pointed out that the 1,200-meter-long fence uses perforated panels to reduce dust generation. He also announced the next phase of capital projects, including a new converter and a dry dedusting system at the Steel Shop, planned for completion by the end of 2027.
Ljubica Drejk, General Manager of Environmental, emphasized that research has shown that a solid wall would further swirl dust, while a perforated wall reduces its transmission by wind. She also presented the environmental results from 2024 as well as some problems, solutions and future plans. She focused primarily on the results in the area of air quality, as well as our activities related to soil testing, water quality and discharge, and waste management. “We continue to work according to legal regulations in each of our processes, as well as in accordance with the IPPC permit, encouraging personal responsibility of each employee in the production,” emphasized Drake.
Chief Operating Officer, Vladan Mihailović, recalled that before the arrival of HBIS, the factory's technology was outdated and environmentally unsustainable. Planned modernizations by 2030 will bring HBIS Serbia into the ranks of the most advanced European steel mills in terms of environmental standards.
Deputy General Director Wang Lianxi said that the company remains committed to environmental protection and good relations with the local community. “We want to be good neighbors and work together on environmental improvements. Many of our colleagues live in surrounding villages, so it is in the interest of every employee to create healthy living conditions,” Wang emphasized.
It was agreed to improve communication with the local population through representatives of local communities, while the company will continue to respond to any reported problems. Joint environmental projects were also discussed, including cleaning and mowing the grass along the paths leading from the villages to the factory.