The debt of "EPCG Željezara" is about three million, and there are unpaid obligations for environmental compensation due to the depositing of hazardous waste in the Vučionica hall, created from the time of Tosčelik, the company's account is blocked, but the factory hopes that this problem will be solved in the next 10 -15 days.
"The total debt at this moment is 2,968,089.92 euros, of which the financial burden is mostly made up of obligations to the Tax Administration. For the record, the stated amount also includes obligations for environmental compensation for the year 2022 with associated interest, in the amount of 196.198.01 euros, which is actually an inherited obligation from the previous period. Also, there is a significant debt to the parent company in the amount of 936.289.61 euros", the company from Nikšić officially told "Vijesta".
As for the tax debt, it was created by the payment of net earnings because there was no money for gross.
Minister of Energy Saša Mujović in mid-October, after a meeting with the workers and management of Željezara and Elektroprivreda, said that the factory has a big problem with accumulated tax debt, which is currently over 1,5 million euros.
"The way it would be according to the law, there would be a blockade, that is, the introduction of bankruptcy in Željezara. Of course, that would have a negative impact on the employees of the Ironworks, so we are through the Prime Minister Milojko Spajić and with his really great involvement, we had an extremely successful meeting with the director of the Tax Administration Sava Laketić, and we tried to find a compromise solution so that the workers would be paid their personal income in the future", said Mujović at the time in a statement delivered to the media.
The Minister said that the task of the workers of the Steel Plant is to intensify activities on the construction of structures for solar panels and concrete blocks, and what is very important and as a conclusion of that meeting is to know exactly what the income of the workers of the Steel Plant must be on a monthly level in order for the company to operate at adequate way and how employees would earn for gross personal income.
Mujović added that this will be the basis for later reprogramming of the tax debt and for workers and all employees to be satisfied and exercise their right to personal income.
Currently, 278 people are employed in the factory on an indefinite basis, while three people are hired on the basis of a work contract.
"Employees are currently engaged in the production and assembly of welded steel structures for the needs of solar power plants (SE), as well as the preparation and rehabilitation of roof surfaces, construction and concrete works (pouring of footings for the installation of SE) and internal works on the adaptation of buildings for our needs and the needs of the energy sector. When it comes to activities for the next period, it is planned to increase the production capacity to 2MW for November 2024, that is, 3MW for the following months", the company pointed out, noting that the Act on internal organization and systematization of workplaces is currently being drafted.
At the end of October, Igor Šamis, a representative of the Swiss company 8B Capital, which recently leased the Čelican and Kovačnica ironworks for a period of 50 years, visited the factory and announced that work on the overhaul of the production equipment could begin around November 10.
"It is not about the start of production, because, according to the contract, the start of production is foreseen no later than 12 months from the date of signing the Contract", unofficially told "Vijesta" from the Electric Industry of Montenegro (EPCG).
With the start of the overhaul, the first group of 25 workers would be taken over.
At the end of July, Shamis met with the President of the Board of Directors of EPCG Milutin Đukanović signed the Lease Agreement for the Steel Plant and the Forge, and the monthly rent is 31.000 euros.
They announced that they will invest 7,75 million euros in the first year, from the signing of the contract and the start of production, and 36,85 million in the next five years. The lessee is obliged to hire at least 150 workers in the first half year of the lease, that is, 25 per month, and to start production no later than one year after signing the contract.
Elektroprivreda bought Željezara from the Turkish company Toscelik for 20 million euros.
The contract with the company "Business Network" was terminated due to non-fulfillment of obligations
During the opening of the factory restaurant, on June 6 last year, which was opened after 20 years and operated for less than half a year, the then Prime Minister of Montenegro, Dritan Abazovic, he presented to the journalists Thomas Hierla, director of the German company "Business Network", the first foreign investor who signed an agreement on business and technical cooperation with the management of EPCG Željezara Nikšić.
The director of "Business network" said then that the production of steel ropes will begin in the fall, that the first three machines should arrive soon, followed by their installation and the training of workers, and that he expects that in the next two or three years be employed 100-200. None of the above happened.
"The lease agreement with the company 'Business Network' was terminated due to non-fulfilment of the tenant's obligations. The company was sued and the Commercial Court ruled in our favor. A lawyer has been engaged with the aim of possible collection of claims", replied the Željezara.
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