MEM and LMBV International sign a memorandum of understanding in addressing the mining sector problems
The agreement was signed by the Minister of Energy and Mining, Justina Shiroka – Pula, and Michael Illing, Executive Director of LMBV International, Rolf Schlottmann, Project Manager, at the attendance of the Deputy Minister of Energy and Mining, Idriz Vehapi, and the German Ambassador in Prishtina, Hans – Dieter Steinbach.
Minister Pula said at the occasion that Kosovo is interested in obtaining the best practices in treating the mining sector problems and this agreement represents a good basis to appropriate such experiences, which were deemed rather successful in Germany.
The agreement was accomplished in the spirit of cooperation between institutions and organizations of the Federal Republic of Germany and the Republic of Kosovo. The agreement places obligations on MEM, MESP and the Trepça Management on side and LMBV International on the other, to commonly review the possibilities to adapt the German model in addressing the inherited environmental and social issues in the mining sector, and to present the relevant recommendations to the Government of Kosovo, in order for the latter to undertake all steps necessary to mitigate the environmental and social problems of the mining sector, respectively of the Trepça complex, and to find the adequate solutions to them.
MEM and MESP highly asserted the very good German experience and managed to mobilize the support of the German party in evaluating the possibilities that can be best adopted to Kosovo circumstances.
LMBV International is a public enterprise established and funded by the German Government, which was active in environmental rehabilitation and addressing social issues deriving from the mining sector of the former Eastern Germany. The elimination of environmental and social consequences that were inherited by Germany from the former East Germany was successfully accomplished 20 years after the unification of the German state.