After January 10, the Swedish consortium Uber Nordic and Kvalitetsbygg will send an offer to invest and start production in Nikšić's Željezara, announced the adviser to the president for regional development, Aleksandar Stijović.
Stijović said in the TVCG morning program that in the previous period, they worked on researching the condition and equipment of the Nikšić company, and their goal is to start a forge, a steelworks and dedicated production.
At a series of meetings held last week, the Swedish consortium presented the company's investment models of up to 70 million euros in the equipment and facilities of the Ironworks, and the intention of long-term investment with a gradual increase in the number of employees was particularly emphasized, the RTCG portal reports.
"Our obligation, as civil servants, is to try to find serious investors who will initiate it. We have no right to reject serious investors and we have no reason to doubt that they embarked on the project with good intentions," said Stijović.
When asked how he got in touch with investors, he replied that these people write to him directly.
"I am here to connect them with the representatives of the Government and the Electric Industry (EPCG), in this case. I consider that my job - to enable these people to present their projects," Stijović added.
In the previous days, the media wrote that the company Uber Nordic has six employees, and that it is registered under the business code of the Swedish industrial classification 43999 - Various other specialized construction and low-rise construction activities.
It was also stated that last year the company had an income of 10,92 million Swedish kronor (SEK), which is about 988,6 thousand euros, and that, according to annual financial reports from Swedish databases, the company's profit was slightly higher than 36 thousand euros.
Stijović explained that the offer is submitted by a consortium, which in addition to Uber Nordic, includes Kvalitetsbygg, with around 100 employees, with a turnover of over 700 million.
According to him, Uber Nordic and Kvalitetsbygg offer to start the Forge, the Steel Plant and dedicated production and to do it with new technologies, in order to avoid coal.
In this way, as Stijović explained, green steel would be obtained and an advantage would be created compared to steel from China.
A positive reaction followed from Montenegro, and the EPCG board of directors had meetings with investors and they prepared four types of offers.
"I hope this will not be the only offer, but it is good to know that there is interest," said Stijović.
After the meetings in Nikšić, it was concluded that, even though it is not currently working, the Ironworks has significant potential, dedicated facilities and equipment, a professional staff structure of employees, but also that investments are necessary, the replacement of outdated technology as well as the acquisition of missing equipment, and that in the event of a decision on the entry of a strategic investor, production could start within two months at the earliest.
The representatives of the consortium stated that they will study all the options of the model of future cooperation and present a specific offer based on the received inputs and the condition of the facilities and equipment, both to the line ministry and the Government, as well as to the EPCG board of directors.
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