Mining and Processing Complex “Assarel Medet” is the first, largest and leading Bulgarian mining company for open pit mining and processing of copper ores, providing about 50% of the national production of honey. The company is a key factor for socio-economic development and the image of the municipality of Panagyurishte and Pazardzhik. It has very important role for the Bulgarian economy.
“Assarel Medet” annually processes about 13 million tonnes of ore, ensuring sustainable development and production to maximize use of the mineral resources of the deposit “Asarel.” The company manufactures and markets home and abroad for high quality copper concentrate and copper cathode.
The company’s history dates back to the opening of the IOC ‘honeymoon’ on December 29, 1964 Technology Mining and Processing Plant “Assarel Medet” was created in 1986 by combining the IOC ‘Medet’ / 1964-1994 / and newly capacities of Mine and Concentrator Plant “Assarel” placed in service on December 6, 1989.
“Assarel Medet” is certified and operates under three major international standards – quality management, environmental protection and providing safe and healthy working conditions. In 1999 the company received the first in the mining industry certified quality management according to ISO 9001 and in 2002 and the country’s first ISO 14001 – protection of the environment. In 2003 he defended the first in the industry certified to OHSAS 18001 for health and safety at work. Management under the standards of the three certificate is performed by an integrated system, implemented in the company in 2003
For the period from 1999 to 2012 “Assarel Medet” invested over 600 million leva in projects for large-scale modernization of the entire technological cycle, energy efficiency, environmental protection, occupational safety and corporate development, and environmental projects are realized over 60 million leva.
The team of “Assarel Medet” was awarded the first Honorary merit to Panagiurishte awarded in 2005 for significant and lasting contribution to the development of the municipality. In 2006, “Assarel Medet” received the Bulgarian Industrial Association “Icarus” for innovation. In 2007 the company was declared Investor of the Year in the mining industry of the Bulgarian Investment Agency and was awarded in the “Investor in Environment” of the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum. 2007 “Assarel Medet” was named one of the “Best Bulgarian employers’ national survey of the international organization” Hewitt “and” Capital “newspaper, and in 2008 was designated as one of the best employers and regional research in Central and Eastern Europe.
In 2009 the company was awarded by the Bulgarian Business Leaders Forum in the category “Investor in society.” “Assarel Medet” also received the “Prmetia” of CONFEDERATION OF INDEPENDENT UNIONS IN BULGARIA – a high standard of health and safety at work. In the same year the company became the winner of the first branch award for socially responsible campaign on an undertaking by the mining industry. In the national competition of “Pari” / “Capital Daily” / “Assarel Medet” was awarded the Grand Prize for Socially Responsible Company of the Year 2009.
Chairperson of the Supervisory Board Prof. Dr. L. Tsotsorkov awarded as “Manager of the Year ‘in 2009” in the magazine “Manager” and “Deloitte” – Bulgaria.
In January 2012, it the company was again awarded as “Investor of the Year ‘2011” – in “green investment”. In June 2012 “Assarel Medet” first prize “Green Business” in the national campaign “Green Bulgaria” of the Ministry of Environment and Water. That same year, now is the winner of the prize for the safety and health of workers at the Ministry of Labour and Social Policy