August 6 (SeeNews) - Bosnia's ailing aluminium producer Aluminij has discussed potential collaboration with Slovenia's Impol Group, Bosnian media reported.
Aluminium products manufacturer Impol Group is interested in launching production at Aluminij's foundry and manufacturing anodes as partners, news portal Klix.ba reported on Monday.
Klix.ba also said that an unnamed Chinese company was interested in buying Aluminij. The intentions of the potential Chinese investor are more serious than previously thought, the news portal added.
Last week, Aluminij's largest stakeholder, the government of Bosnia's Federation entity, adopted a plan for the restructuring of Aluminij by the end of the year. The plan was adopted at a meeting with the minority shareholders, the management board of Aluminij, and the trade union.
Aluminij's management has submitted a draft restructuring plan consisting of three phases. The first phase is the start of the foundry, the second is the start of the anode plant and the third - the electrolysis plant.
Mostar-based Aluminij shut down operations on July 10 after its power supply was cut off due to swelling unpaid bills.
The company has been in persistent trouble over prices of electricity and raw materials. Local media reported last month that the company's outstanding debt to Elektroprivreda HZHB totalled 280 million marka.
Slovenian management company Impol 2000, which controls Impol Group, achieved a record-high net profit of 36.7 million euro last year, up from 35.6 million euro profit in 2017.
The Federation is one of two autonomous entities forming Bosnia and Herzegovina. The other one is the Serb Republic.
(1 euro = 1.95583 marka)