Ada Tepe is the first greenfield mine in Bulgaria for the past 40 years.In parallel with the extraction and processing of ores,DPMK takes care of the environment.The care for a protected species of turtles,as well as the care for the waste from the production with a view to preserve nature,provoked us to create bold solutions that are unique and innovative on a global scale.The progressive rehabilitation project is a good stakeholder collaboration as early as the public hearings stage during the environmental impact assessment process, long before mining begins. As a result we build and operate a unique facility Integrated Mine Waste Facility (IMWF). It is recognised as a BAT in mine waste management, and the method of rehabilitation has never been implemented in Europe before.

The project cares for the nature and community. As the entire Khan Krum deposit lies within the footprint of Natura 2000 protected site known as Rhodopes East, the Progressive Rehabilitation Project is aligned with the requirements and measures to protect and restore the habitats in that area. The purpose is to ensure maximum protection of the environment, biodiversity and human health. The project has a social benefit because it engages only local employees, companies and forestry departments.

‘We are stewards of the environment’ is one of our core values. The project is fully aligned with DPM’s values and vision as a world class operating mining company and it is part of the social responsibility towards the municipality of Krumovgrad and the local community. The project is implemented throughout the entire life of the mine and will continue into the mine closure stage, or a total of 19 years.

The project was launched already at the project construction phase when the starter platforms of the facility were rehabilitated. That stage was extremely challenging for the whole team, including all the stakeholders, because it was something completely new and previously unknown. The first years of rehabilitation were very valuable, giving the whole team knowledge, understanding and the certainty they can deal with that demanding task. Rehabilitation itself is linked with the operations, where the timing of cell construction, lining and drainage placement, and tailings deposition is essential to allow sufficient time for subsequent dessication. Hence, all the stages are interrelated and dependent on one another. After the operational stage comes actual rehabilitation – placement of special coir matting and topsoil, hydro-seeding with special grass seed mixes, which are only native species, and finally, planting tree saplings. The final stage is the aftercare for revegetated and rehabilitated areas to ensure their development without human intervention.

The results of the successive implementation of the so-called progressive rehabilitation at the "Ada Tepe" mine are clearly visible and with concrete benefits for nature and restored or new habitats, for environmentally friendly production. The experience and skills that the employees and external contractors involved in the project acquire during the various activities are another positive, which still has nowhere to be studied in its entirety given the lack of similar realized projects. The benefits to the local public and institutions involved are also significant in terms of knowledge, experience and confidence. All this is part of the uniqueness of the Integrated Mine Waste Facility in addition to its essence and makes it the best technique in mine waste management.