Aurubis Bulgaria Opens Rainwater Treatment Plant Worth € 6.3 Million

Aurubis Bulgaria launched a new Rainwater Treatment Plant (RWTP) at a symbolic ribbon-cutting ceremony by the Minister of Economy Bozhidar Lukarski and HE Detlef Lingeman, Ambassador of Germany, Deputy Minister of Environment and Water Krasimir Zhivkov, along with Dr. Frank Schneider, member of the Executive Board of Aurubis AG, and Tim Kurth, Executive Director of Aurubis Bulgaria, in the presence of representatives of central and local government, the diplomatic corps, the metallurgical business, the NGO sector, etc.

“The investment project for building a new water treatment plant at Aurubis Bulgaria is another milestone on our responsible path to becoming one of the most environmentally friendly smelters in the world. Congratulations to our team here, which is contributing to the sustainable development and progress of the company for our successful future,” said Dr. Frank Schneider, member of the Executive Board of Aurubis AG.

The total amount of the environmental project is € 6.3 million and was funded by the company. The activities were carried out in one year, covering the construction of a treatment plant with a capacity of 230 m³/h, buffer pools and incoming sewage. With the operation of the new water treatment plant, rainwater drainage from the premises of the industrial company with an area of 2,800 acres will be treated to achieve the parameters for discharge. The current technology will enable the purity level of discharged water to be in full compliance with the present best available techniques (BAT) established by the European Commission.  Some of the purified water will be reused in the production process, thereby reducing the consumption of fresh water, which further enhances the effect of protecting the environment and resources.

“With the construction of the new RWTP, our plant located between Pirdop and Zlatitsa has become one of the few in the country with three treatment facilities (for industrial, domestic and rainwater), which shows commitment to the environment and our neighbors, along with the efforts to protect the air and soil. Every day we prove that our requirements and standards are in full compliance with national and EU legislation, which is supported by the introduction of the best worldwide technologies for protecting the environment,” said Tim Kurth, Executive Director of Aurubis Bulgaria.

After the privatization of the copper production site near Pirdop, over € 500 million has been invested in modernising the processes and improving environmental performance. With the numerous technical and organisational measures taken, the specific emissions of SO₂, dust and heavy metals have been reduced by 95% from 2000 until now. The most significant implemented projects in this area are a secondary gas cleaning system (2008), the construction of a new refinery (2008) and expansion of the slag flotation plant (2010). Currently, the company is finalizing the investment program for productivity enhancement and environmental protection, Aurubis Bulgaria 2014, worth € 44.2 million.

Aside from these investments, Aurubis Bulgaria assumes its Corporate Social Responsibility and sponsors a number of projects. The extended social program for 2013 shows a total amount of € 270,000 used for the municipalities of Pirdop and Zlatitsa in projects for improving the social climate in the region and supporting different social organizations and projects with leading Bulgarian educational institutions regarding the conditions for professional development and realization of youth and sports talents.

Aurubis Group company profile

Aurubis is the leading integrated copper group and the world’s largest copper recycler. We produce some 1 million t of copper cathodes each year and from them a variety of copper products. Production expertise is our strength and the driving force of our success.

Aurubis has about 6,500 employees, production sites in Europe and the USA and an extensive service and sales system for copper products in Europe, Asia and North America.

Thanks to our wide range of services, we rank among the global leaders in our industry. Our core business is the production of marketable copper cathodes from copper concentrates, copper scrap and recycling raw materials. These are processed within the Group into continuous cast wire rod, shapes, rolled products and strip as well as specialty wire made of copper and copper alloys. Precious metals and a number of other products, such as sulfuric acid and iron silicate, round off our product portfolio.

Customers of Aurubis include companies in the copper semis industry, the electrical engineering, electronics and chemical industries as well as suppliers of the renewable energies, construction and automotive sectors.

Aurubis is oriented to growth and to increasing corporate value: the main focuses of our strategy are on expanding our leading market position as an integrated copper producer, utilizing growth opportunities and practicing a responsible attitude when dealing with people, resources and the environment.

Aurubis shares are part of the Prime Standard Segment of the Deutsche Börse and are listed in the MDAX and the Global Challenges Index (GCX).

Further information at www.aurubis.com

Aurubis Bulgaria company profile

One of the Aurubis Group’s copper production plants is in the city of Pirdop, Bulgaria. The plant was built in 1958 and its main activity is processing copper concentrates for the production of copper anodes and cathodes, as well as by-products such as sulfuric acid and fayalite. It consists of four main production units: Smelter, Refinery, Acid Plant and Flotation Plant.