Bulgaria is the sixth largest producer and processor of non-ferrous metals in the EU

The Bulgarian Association of the Metallurgical Industry (BAMI) and Aurubis Bulgaria celebrated 60 years of Metallurgist's Day and 65 years of the establishment of the copper plant in the Srednogorie region, today Aurubis. The event in Sofia was attended by Prime Minister Acad. Nikolay Denkov, Minister of Economy and Industry Bogdan Bogdanov, Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov, Prof. Dr. Georgi Angelov - Deputy Minister of Innovation and Growth, Iva Petrova - Deputy Minister of Energy, leading companies in the sector, representatives of the professional and academic community.

"The metallurgy provides the materials that are the basis for the development of Bulgaria as a high-tech base," emphasized Prime Minister Acad. Nikolay Denkov during the event. He pointed the sector as a good example of successful interaction between business, academic communities and the commitment to the social projects. "We have the necessary expertise and our country is a major supplier of key raw materials for Europe. Bulgaria can create technologies that will be extremely important for Europe in the coming years," Minister Bogdan Bogdanov added.

Nikola Rangelov, Chairman of BAMI, said that the sector is important for the country's economy. Bulgaria is the sixth largest producer and processor of non-ferrous metals in the EU, accounting for 14% of European copper production, 8% of lead and 4% of zinc. Our country produces and exports over 1 million tonnes of rolled ferrous metals. The metallurgical sector accounts for 11% of Bulgaria's goods exports - over BGN 10 billion in 2022. The value added per employee in metallurgy is 2 to 3 times higher than the average in manufacturing.

"Metals are at the heart of the transition to a sustainable and low-carbon economy," noted Tim Kurth, CEO of Aurubis Bulgaria. The company is a leading producer of refined copper, and its production capacity at the Aurubis plant near Pirdop will be expanded from 230,000 to 340,000 tonnes per year - an investment worth BGN 240 million.

At the event, the academic achievements of students from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy (UCTM) and the Technical University (TU) were rewarded.