The Trepca company used to be the economic giant, not only in than Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (SFRY) but in the entire Balkans. Company used to produce 70 per cent of mineral raw materials in than Yugoslavia and used to employ around 20.000 workers. Even though only one fifth of that figure is employed today, it still fells in the category of the richest ore-mineral raw material resources, not only in Europe but in the entire world.

The ore has being extracted in the area of Trepca mining-complex as of 1930, when the first exploration was launched, whereas a decade later and the smelter was put in operation. Its reserves are estimated to 29 million tons of ore, with the double amounts of lead and zinc than average ones.

“Trepca has 45 per cent of total reserves of lead on the territory of Serbia, including Kosovo. Total reserves of zinc in that area is 35 per cent, and around 55 per cent of reserves of silver in Serbia,” said Rade Jelenkovic from the Mining-Geological Faculty in Belgrade. “When compared with the world ones it still fells in the category of medium-large reserves of lead and zinc,” said Jelenkovic.