The Nikšić company EPCG – Željezara needs the support of the state and the parent company in order to start producing and be profitable as soon as possible, its representatives announced.
The Director of EPCG – Željezara Đorđije Manojlović and the President of the Trade Union Ivan Vujović said that the company needs an integrated permit from the Agency for the Protection of Competition to start production.
With the help of the state, as they explained, that process could be accelerated.
Vujović said that they should sign a cooperation agreement with the Czech company on Monday.
– They are ready to buy a thousand tons of finished goods from us in the next two years, and our monthly production should be around 1,700 tons – specified Vujović.
He also stated that Željezara lost its certificates in the two years it was not producing, and that the Czechs are ready to give their certificates to the Nikšić company.
– There are inquiries and interested parties, but first we have to start production. For that, we need to obtain an integrated permit from the Agency for the Protection of Competition – explained Vujović.
As he said, the integrated permit can be obtained in six months, and they are asking the state to start production and to solve the issue as it goes along.
– The Czech company requires us to start delivering those goods already in mid-September or early October – said Vujović.
He said that they are asking for EUR 6.5 million, as provided for in the business plan from January. Vujović also said that the production project foresees an annual profit of around EUR 2 million.
– There is profit, there is labor and professional staff, we just need to have the ear of the state for obtaining permits and from our parent company for the planned budget – announced Vujović.
He added that they have nothing against investors, nor against parent company EPCG.
– We need the support of the state to start production and to finally show that we are not like before and that we want to work and produce 300 families depend on this factory – explained Vujović.
Manojlović said that they have inquiries and interest in buying iron from a dozen countries, but that they are waiting for the start of production.
He added that the integrated license is mainly related to ecology and that it can already be issued on the basis of existing licenses. And the license from the Agency for the Protection of Competition, as he believes, is not problematic.
– If the money, those six and a half million, is given, we don’t spend that money for salaries but for working capital – explained Manojlović and said that Željezara can be profitable.
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