Cover STORY
The mine also strives to reduce
its energy consumption, optimise
its usage of reagents and reduce its
emissions. To that effect, an efficient
system has been established for the
proper storage, management, and
recycling of waste that is generated
within the overall working process.
The company performs contin-
uous monitoring of water, air, and
soil quality within the mine and its
surroundings. Samples are analyzed
in the mine’s accredited laboratory,
as well as by independent expert
and scientific institutions and it has
been determined that the mine oper-
ates in accordance with the legal
requirements and international stan-
dards for environmental protection
management.
We believe that it is possible to
operate a mine and associated facil-
ities in an environmentally responsi-
ble and safe manner and there are
many international organisations and
guidelines in place to ensure this hap-
pens. Such examples are the United
Nations Environment Programme
(UNEP) and the International Finance
Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank,
which imposes international envi-
ronmental and health and safety
guidelines on effluents from mining
operations, with which many compa-
nies are required by lenders to com-
ply. Many companies also adhere to
Equator Principles, an environmental
and social risk management frame-
work, and the EU Waste Directive
also protects the environment.
Therefore, we believe that inter-
national best practise approaches
and legislation provide a framework
for effective and safe extraction of
metal ores, enabling mining compa-
nies to positively impact their local
communities.
Investing in Sasa for the
long-term benefit of our
stakeholders
In order to ensure that our employ-
ees are properly remunerated for their
efforts, we raised the salaries of our
staff, as well as introducing additional
performance-based remuneration
incentives, including prizes such as
weekend trips. Our team’s working
conditions have also been improved
by the purchase of three new buses
to be used to transport staff to and
from the mine. In addition, in order
to mark the Day of the Miners, each
12
AmCham Macedonia Magazine
Fall 2018 / Issue 59
Marija Stojanovska, Environmental Protection engineer discussing actions with D.Nikolovski,
one of our employees
employee was presented with a
token gift package.
Sasa continuously invests in
new technological equipment, for
extraction, transport and ore pro-
cessing, and also in employee health
and safety and environmental pro-
tection. Investments are in state-of-
the-art equipment and technology
produced by some of the world’s
famous manufacturers of mining
equipment and during the first nine
months of 2018, significant capital
expenditure has been invested in the
mine, totalling 9.3 million Euros. This
included modern mining machinery
such as the Wagner ST7 under-
ground mining scoop tram, a Brokk
400 D rock breaker, three new spe-
cialised vehicles for underground
transportation of personnel and a
new explosives mixer from Paus, and
a new electric locomotive.
In addition, to ensure the longevity
of the Sasa mine for all stakehold-
ers, investments have been made
in a new Metso SMD mill in the
zinc regrind circuit. Environmental
improvements have also been made
in the construction of the new tailings
facility to the best international stan-
dards and a waste water treatment
plant.
In terms of capital expenditure for
health and safety improvements, the
mine has also invested in improving
the miners’ safety by installing auto
fire systems in the mine and mine
vehicles, as well as purchasing new
modern equipment for the emer-
gency response team.
Local Procurement Policy
Local procurement is of strategic
importance to Sasa. It plays a key
role in securing and maintaining our
right to mine, developing thriving and
healthy host communities, creating
efficiencies in our supply chain and
ensuring reliable access to critical
supplies. The objective of the ‘Local
Procurement Policy’ is to enable
access by local businesses to supply
chain opportunities that arise from
the presence of our operations.
In addition to the direct employ-
ment that we offer at Sasa, the mine
also generates significant indirect
employment in the services provided
to the mine. These range from office
materials, haulage, transportation of
employees, nutrition and catering
services for Sasa employees, gen-
eral maintenance suppliers as well as
the local hotels where our expatriates
stay.
Wherever possible, we are com-
mitted to using local and domestic
suppliers as we believe that in this
regard we can also play our part in
growing the economy of Macedo-
nia.