Shahpaska: SASA works with state-of-the-art equipment and according to the best safety standards
The Minister of Labor and Social Policy, Jagoda Shahpaska on October 15, 2021, paid a working visit to the SASA Mine. During the visit she had a meeting with the members of the management and technical team, during which all important aspects of the work of SASA were presented, starting from the production, implementation of investment projects, care for employees, health and safety, working conditions, protection environment and sustainable development, all the way to community support projects. Minister Sahpaska had the opportunity to get directly acquainted with the working process in the mining shaft, where she met with several miners. After getting acquainted with the entire production process at SASA, summarizing the impressions from the visit to the mine, Minister Shahpaska said: “I am pleased to state that the conditions at the SASA mine are indeed in line with world safety standards. “Employees and management have reaffirmed that workplace safety is a top priority for everyone at SASA.” “I wish the employees of SASA who work with truly world-class equipment for work on this type of underground mines much more success and many days without injuries at work,” said Minister Shahpaska at the end of her working visit, greeting “SREKJNO!” To all miners and SASA employees. https://youtube.com/watch?v=JWEg4h-Zqec%3Fautoplay%3D0%26mute%3D0%26controls%3D1%26origin%3Dhttps%253A%252F%252Fwww.sasa.com.mk%26playsinline%3D1%26showinfo%3D0%26rel%3D0%26iv_load_policy%3D3%26modestbranding%3D1%26enablejsapi%3D1%26widgetid%3D1
Ivica Talevski, Sustainability Director of SASA, elected President of Macedonian Mining Association
Ivica Talevski, Sustainability Director of SASA Mine, who was unanimously elected new President of the Macedonian Mining Association (MAR) at the Economic Chamber of North Macedonia announced development of the mining sector in accordance with the highest principles of environmental protection, support for the community and intensification of cooperation with all relevant partners. In his speech before the members of MAR, Talevski emphasized his vision and priorities for the development of the mining sector, in order to make greater use of the potential of this industry and encourage the local and overall economic development of the country. “The SASA mine I come from is an example of a successful business story based on responsible operation, environmental protection and building strong relationships with the community. These principles are based not only on SASA, but on the entire mining industry, and as President of MAR I will strive for this practice to be the basis for all companies operating in this sector, because there is no doubt that we all have one common goal – sustainable development. But the development of our companies and the whole industry is impossible without the simultaneous development of the community, so I will strive for this relationship to be even more visible to create a success story for both companies and citizens. At the same time, I will try to be a worthy representative of the mining sector and their “voice in society”, said Talevski. Talevski also announced a strategy and a concrete plan to strengthen the confidence in the mining industry that will be implemented in the coming period. Mining is a significant industry branch in the national economy employing over 7,200 people. In the structure of industrial production, this branch has a share of 10.87%. The average salary in this sector is 34.2% higher than the average national salary, which is another confirmation of the importance of this sector. SASA Mine employs about 700 people and is the largest underground ore mining mine in the country and one of the 5 largest lead and zinc mines in Europe. Since November 2017, SASA has been owned by Central Asia Metals – a specialized mining development company based in London, UK, listed on the London Stock Exchange (AIM: CAML). The company continuously implements its rich experience and latest practices in the mining industry at SASA. SASA is the first mine in the region with an A – integrated environmental permit. In addition, the mine operates according to the most modern international management standards (ISO 9001), occupational health and safety (OHSAS 18001), environmental protection (ISO 14001) and laboratory testing (ISO 17025). SASA is among the largest exporters and among the 10 largest companies in terms of taxes paid.
New scholarships for students and postgraduates from SASA Mine
The lead and zinc mine SASA, through its Foundation for Support of Sustainable Development, has committed to provide scholarship funds for eight first year students at the Faculty of Natural and Technical Sciences within the University Goce Delchev in Shtip for the 2021/2022 academic year. Five scholarships will be awarded to students of mining, two scholarships to students of geology and one for environmental protection studies. Additionally, this year SASA has also committed to provide four scholarships for postgraduate students at the Faculty of Civil Engineering at the University St. Cyril and Methodius in Skopje on hydraulic engineering and geotechnical engineering courses. Undergraduate students will receive the Denar equivalent of $350 each semester from SASA while postgraduates will receive $470. SASA will also continue to support the existing student scholarships already in place, allocating more than $10,000 for this purpose annually. “It is our great pleasure to continue to support students furthering their education and knowledge in subject areas relevant to our operations at SASA, and we believe that these scholarships should support and motivate young people to strive for their academic best in their chosen fields. At SASA, 99% of our employees are Macedonian citizens and 90% of those are from our local town, Makedonska Kamenica. We want to do all we can to help young Macedonian people develop their skills so that we at SASA, as well as other local businesses, can provide employment and career opportunities to them for the long term.” said SASA General Director Scott Yelland. The information and criteria required for a SASA scholarship are available on the SASA website (sasa.com.mk) and an application can be made until 5 October 2021. When considering scholarship applications, SASA will give special focus to young people in Makedonska Kamenica and the surrounding areas, as well as those from socially vulnerable families. In addition to the financial support to be provided during studies, SASA will allow the students that it sponsors to become acquainted with and gain initial experience of the operations in a modern mine. Those who achieve the highest results during their studies receive additional points when applying for employment in SASA. All interested candidates for these scholarships can submit their applications by email to contact@sasa-foundation.com or receive additional information by calling this number: 033 279 225.
SASA supports the participation of WFC Kamenica SASA in the UEFA Champions League 2021
SASA Mine General Director Scott Yelland met with members of the Kamenica SASA women’s football team, which is sponsored by SASA, before their departure to Italy where they will play their first match of this year’s UEFA Champions League against Juventus on August 18. “We are happy and extremely proud of the huge success you have achieved by winning the domestic football championship again, which has allowed you to compete with the best teams in the UEFA Champions League for two years in a row. Additionally, we are very proud that this championship team includes the young engineer in SASA Ana Dimitrovska. I am sure that, as before, you and the team will give your best in all the upcoming matches within the championship and win new matches that will bring great joy to all of us in the whole community; you will write a new page in the sports history of the country,” SASA General Director Scott Yelland told the players, emphasizing that SASA will continue to be with them and the team, as before by providing the necessary support for future successes. SASA provides financial support for the women’s football club Kamenica SASA. For this participation in the matches of the Champions League too, SASA provided funds for the purchase of new jerseys and other necessary equipment for the players, as well as to cover the travel expenses of the team.
Cash rewards for all SASA employees and $120,000 donation to a new city park
Makedonska Kamenica, 30.08.2021 – Despite all the challenges and restrictions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, SASA Mine this year in an appropriate way marked the 28th of August – Miners’ Day. On the occasion of the holiday, all 705 employees of SASA received cash prizes and gifts, and in addition, 122 employees were awarded special awards in recognition for their outstanding contribution to safety and health at work and performance in their respective workplaces. This year, SASA, in honour of Miners’ Day, through its Foundation for Support of Sustainable Development, donated over $120,000 in the construction of a new park “Mladost” in Makedonska Kamenica, whose construction began on June 12 this year, to mark the 15th anniversary of the restart of the mine. “All of us in the SASA team are pleased that despite all the restrictions imposed by the pandemic this year we managed to safely maintain production and with the support of our investors from Central Asia Metals, to continue investing in modern mining equipment and technology, in improving the safety and digitalization of the technical processes, in raising the standards and working conditions in the mine, as well as in the well-being and professional development of all our employees. Of course, we are extremely proud of the large number of community support projects we have implemented in the past, as well as those that are planned for the future, in the field of education, sports, environment, health care and vulnerable social groups. In the next period we will continue to invest in all segments that should ensure the optimal operation of SASA for the long term, as well as securing additional employment, and we will continue to invest in all areas that are important for the long-term prosperity of people and the local community,” said the General Director of SASA, Scott Yelland, congratulating this year’s holiday to all miners and employees in the Macedonian mining industry.
A new inclusive children’s playground was built with a donation from SASA
SASA Mine donated a new inclusive children’s playground located in the premises of the kindergarten Bambi and the Daycare Center for people with disabilities in Makedonska Kamenica. The playground provides access for children with disabilities as well, which encourages their greater inclusiveness during their stay in these two establishments, as well as for recreational activities. This project was proposed by the kindergarten and is part of the annual program for supporting projects of importance to the local community, for the implementation of which SASA provides continuous financial support. “We are pleased to support the implementation of this project because we believe that all children should have a happy childhood and equal access and opportunities to use playgrounds and other places that are important for their development and enable easier integration into society,” said SASA Mine General Manager Scott Yelland. Through the newly established Foundation for the Support of Sustainable Development, SASA Mine recently reaffirmed its intention to continue investing more than $300,000 a year in various fields, such as sports, education and the environment, which are important to people’s lives and prosperity and the local community.
SASA will continue to invest over $300,000 a year in community development
Through the newly established Foundation for Support of Sustainable Development, the SASA Mine confirmed its intention to continue investing more than 300,000 USD annually in various areas important for life and the prosperity of the citizens and the local community. This was announced at the meeting of the representatives of the SASA management team with the British Ambassador HE Rachel Galloway, who was in Makedonska Kamenica on the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the restart of the mine, where she got acquainted with the implementation of some previous and ongoing socially responsible projects as well as SASA’s future investment plans for community development. “For us at SASA, success is complete only if it is shared with the people and the community in which we live and work. Therefore, thanks to the support we receive from our owners – the London based company Central Asia Metals, as well as the cooperation with central and local institutions and partners, such as the British Embassy, we will continue to work on the further sustainable development of SASA, which will open new opportunities for even greater investment in projects that are important to the prosperity of the people and the local community,” said SASA Sustainability Director Ivica Talevski, thanking the British Embassy and HE Ambassador Galloway for the expressed interest and continuous support. During the visit, the British Ambassador, among other things, got acquainted with the work of the SASA Training Center, as well as the support provided by the company for the introduction of the new concept of dual education within the municipal high school and scholarships awarded to students at the University of Stip. Such support should create new perspectives for the career development and employment prospects of young people. The Ambassador was introduced to the investments of SASA in the segment of health care and the support of socially vulnerable citizens in the community, especially during the Covid-19 pandemic, as well as the latest project for the construction of the park ‘Mladost’ in Makedonska Kamenica, in which over 100 thousand euros have been invested. The plan for investments in the horticultural arrangement of the new green urban zone in the city was also presented. “Makedonska Kamenica is a great example of the fact that when there is real vision, understanding and cooperation between businesses, institutions and citizens, then visible results can be achieved that bring progress and better quality of life in the community,” said British Ambassador, HE Rachel Galloway, congratulating the team of SASA and Central Asia Metals for the overall work so far and plans for future investments in the development of the community.
Celebrating 15 years since the SASA restart
On the 12th of June SASA celebrated the 15th anniversary of the re-opening of the mine with acknowledgements for employees past and present, as well as local and national partners who have made a significant contribution to the success of SASA during this period. This period followed June 12, 2006, when SASA resumed production of lead-zinc ore after a bankruptcy case was initiated in 2003 to close the mine, causing job losses, social insecurity for many families and economic stagnation of the local area. To mark this important year, SASA has announced its intention to make a significant contribution totalling over €100,000 for the construction of the new “Mladost” youth park in Makedonska Kamenica. This contribution will pay for the installation of park equipment and the planting of trees and other shrubs, as well as the physical development of the park. “In the last 15 years, SASA has continued operating and developing successfully thus contributing to the prosperity of the community and providing employment and economic security for many families and has grown into one of the most successful North Macedonian companies. SASA employees are to be credited for this great success because of their hard work and expertise,” said SASA Mine General Manager Scott Yelland. Since London based company, Central Asia Metals became the owner of SASA in 2017, more than $30 million has been invested at the mine in the procurement of new and modern mining equipment, in the digitalization of technical processes, in improving safety, raising standards and working conditions in the mine, as well as in the professional development and education of SASA employees. Intensive investments in the further sustainable development of SASA have been announced for the coming period. “The Board of Directors of Central Asia Metals has already approved an additional $20 million in capital investments in the development of SASA. We are currently working with government ministries to agree on the implementation of these developments which will ensure the sustainable future of the mine for the long term. In parallel, we will continue to support the development of the local community in areas such as sports, education and caring for the most vulnerable in our society. We are delighted to be able to materially contribute to the new Mladost park, which we believe will be enjoyed by the whole Makedonska Kamenica community.” Yelland emphasized.
NEW CYCLE OF FREE TRAINING IN THE TRAINING CENTER OF SASA MINE STARTED
Today 11 young people will begin a three-month training programme with the SASA mine to upgrade their knowledge and gain practical skills in the fields of electrical engineering and mechanical engineering at the Training Center of SASA Mine. The training will be with a physical presence, in compliance with all safety protocols and preventive measures for protection against Covid-19 and will be performed by experienced lecturers and trainers from SASA Mine and external partner companies. To participate in the training, candidates had to apply for the public call announced by the company and also meet the minimum requirements – to have appropriate secondary education, to have organizational skills and to be adaptable to teamwork. Participants who successfully complete the training will receive appropriate certificates that are recognized by the state and those who will have the best results during the training will gain additional points when applying for a job at SASA Mine. During the training, participants will receive monthly compensation from the company to cover their costs. These trainings, as well as the operation of the Training Center, are part of SASA’s strategic commitment to continuous investments in areas that are important for the prosperity of the local community, as well as in the resources that ensure the extension of the working life of the largest lead and zinc mine in the country.
Бесплатна обука за електричари и механичари во тренинг центарот на Рудник Саса
Во согласност со својата стратешка определба за континуирано вложување во областите кои се значајни за просперитетот на локалната заедница, како и во ресурсите кои обезбедуваат продолжување на работниот век на најголемиот рудник за олово и цинк во земјата, Рудник САСА го ре-активира својот Тренинг центар за обука во Македонска Каменица. Новиот циклус на работа на Тренинг центарот на Рудник САСА започнува од 1-ви мај 2021 година со организација на бесплатна обука за електричари и механичари во времетраење од три месеци. Обуката е наменета за млади лица од 20 до 35 години кои се заинтересирани да го зголемат своето знаење и да стекнат практични вештини од областа на електротехниката и машинството. Обуката ќе ја изведуваат искусни лиценцирани предавачи и обучувачи од Рудник САСА и надворешни партнерски компании. Учесниците кои успешно ќе ја поминат обуката ќе добијат соодветни сертификати кои се признаени од државата, со оглед на тоа што Тренинг центарот на Рудник САСА поседува соодветна акредитација од Министерството за образование и наука. Кандидатите кои ќе покажат најдобри резултати ќе се стекнат со дополнителни поени при аплицирање за работа во рудникот САСА. Бројот на учесници во обуката ќе биде ограничен, а наставата ќе се одвива со физичко присуство, со почитување на сите безбедносни протоколи и превентивни мерки за заштита од Ковид-19. За учество на обуката кандидатите треба да имаат завршено средно образование – III или IV степен машинска или електро стручна подготовка, да поседуваат организаторски способности и да се прилагодливи на тимска работа. Сите заинтересирани што ги исполнуваат овие услови треба да достават лична професионална биографија (CV) и копија од дипломата за завршено средно образование, електронски на applications@sasa.com.mk или директно во одделот за човечки ресурси на Рудник САСА, најдоцна до 01.04.2021. Повеќе информации во врска со обуката кандидатите можат да добијат на телефон: +389 33 279 200.
