Twenty-five young miners officially started work today at the Stantërg Mine, becoming part of a new generation in this sector.

The Director of Trepca Mine, Shyqyri Sadiku, told KosovaPress that this is the third generation of new miners and that they will undergo a full training program.

“Today, fortunately, I can say that the third generation has also started. Those who have started are 25 miners, all of them dedicated to production. In the future, with more experience in production over two or three years, we believe that through training and certification, they will become the miners of the future,” said Sadiku.

He explained that the training will last six months and will include both theoretical and practical components.

“First, we need to get to know them and introduce them to the procedures in the mining sector. We also have a six-month training program for all miners who have not previously completed mine training. The program includes 120 hours of theoretical training, followed by 180 hours of practical training in the mine. All levels will be covered gradually, starting with theory, risks, and potential challenges. In the second phase, they move to practical work in the mine, led by engineers who will guide the training over six months. After six months, they will take a test, and those who pass successfully will continue further,” he said.

Sadiku emphasized that the need for new workers is essential, as each year a significant number of miners retire.

“This depends entirely on the number of retirees, because this year around 31 miners are retiring. Each year, similar numbers retire. I believe that for each miner who retires, we need new recruits, as the mine must always be renewed with new generations. Unfortunately, in legal terms, miners are required to work until 65 years of age. A miner who has worked in harsh and difficult conditions should ideally retire at age 50,” said the mine director, Shyqyri Sadiku.

According to him, the Stantërg Mine currently has 675 workers and around 30 engineers, distributed across several key departments.

“The Stantërg Mine has a flotation section. Within the flotation section, there are several departments linked like a chain: production, machinery, investment and research, occupational safety and health, common services, and flotation, where ore is processed and finalized into product. There are currently around 30 engineers managing these tasks. As for administration, the mine has a very small number, around 10 or 11 employees, with five directly in administration: three in payroll and two in human resources,” he explained.

Among the new miners is Liridon Meholli, who said working at Trepca had long been a dream of his.

“It has always been a dream of mine as a miner’s son. Like many young people, I perhaps dreamed of working at Trepca,” he said.

Fehmi Gërguri stated that he comes from a family with a mining tradition, and that this profession has special meaning for him.