Zijin Mining to develop 30,000 ton green hydrogen capacity in Serbia

The Ministry of Mining and Energy in Serbia made an announcement on November 10th, revealing the interest of two Chinese companies, Zijin Mining and Shanghai Fengling Renewable, in making investments in hydrogen production from renewable sources within Serbia. The anticipated production capacity is approximately 30,000 tons per annum.

Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, the Minister of Mining and Energy of Serbia, emphasized that this project could position Serbia prominently in Europe's hydrogen production landscape and potentially establish the country as an exporter of this energy source in the future. The envisaged collaboration involves the construction of a hybrid facility—integrating solar and wind power—in the Bor region. This facility would generate green energy to support Zijin Mining's existing copper complex in the area.

According to a statement from the Government of Serbia, an investment of around EUR 2 billion is planned for the development and construction of 1.5GW wind and solar farms, energy storage facilities for hydrogen production, and hydrogen fuel-based energy production technology. Zijin Mining stands to benefit from cost-effective renewable power initially, positioning itself to potentially enter the European green hydrogen market. This move is particularly significant as Serbia works towards achieving a 45% share of renewable energy in its electricity production by 2030, seeking to accelerate its transition away from coal-dominated energy structures.

In parallel with this development, Shanghai Fengling Renewable has already established a company in Serbia and has commenced the process of hiring personnel for the purpose of actively contributing to the development and realization of the hydrogen production project.

Zijin Mining, a major multinational mining group, is engaged in the global exploration and development of gold, copper, zinc, and lithium. As of 2023, the company has mining projects spanning 17 provincial-level regions in China and 15 other countries. Notably, Zijin Mining operates two significant copper and gold mines in the Bor region of Serbia—the Cukaru Copper-Gold Mine and the Bor Copper Complex.