New Zenica Steel Mill Blasts Nikšić: You Sank Domestic Production Due to Import Lobbies, Woe to Those You 'Save'

(Patria) - The management of New Zenica Steel Mill issued a press release today, reacting to the latest statements by Federal Prime Minister Nermin Nikšić.

The company accuses Nikšić of populism, economic ignorance, and directly favoring import lobbies at the expense of the Zenica giant.

"Prime Minister Nikšić, words do not start blast furnaces - nor do they save jobs. The facts show that integral production is unsustainable under these conditions.

Start dealing with real problems, not populism. How would you even know the real situation when you have never visited the Steel Mill...

The import of about 100,000 finished products into BiH for the importers you support has already been announced. Because of this, Zenica Steel Mill has lost the BiH market.

You have been ignoring our warnings since April last year, you should not ignore this now. Until yesterday, you were talking about integral production, now you are talking about restructuring - who are you lying to?", asked New Zenica Steel Mill.

They called on him to face the problems and not sweep them under the rug from one election to another.

"We do not need your financial assistance, but do not hinder us from doing what is best for Zenica - in terms of environment, finances, and social aspects", say New Zenica Steel Mill.

They emphasize that Prime Minister Nikšić's statement that "the Government will not leave workers alone" sounds good in press releases and on Facebook profiles.

However, they add, the workers of New Zenica Steel Mill, the citizens of Zenica, and the public have the right to ask a simple question - where, when, and in which case has Prime Minister Nikšić saved workers?

"The Federation is witnessing the shutdown of production, the collapse of public enterprises, and a constant decrease in industrial capacity. The Steel Mill is not a problem that arose yesterday.

The question is what the Government did concretely months and years before the situation reached a dead end? Where are the investment plans? Where are the partnerships? Where are the serious industrial development programs? Where are the measurable success indicators?

We have seen how the Government 'stands behind the workers' in Krivaja, mines, and other systems. Those workers have been waiting for years for their service to be credited, and miners are threatening a hunger strike today.

If that is the model of 'saving', then we have every right to say - woe to those you will save. During your term in 2014, you said the same thing to the workers of Krivaja. Today, everyone sees where that led.

It is obvious that you do not know the real situation, the technical and economic capabilities of this factory - but how would you know when you have never visited the owners or the workers to hear the real state of affairs.

Decisions about steel production are not made in an office, nor based on populism and political narratives, but on facts, the market, and technology.

Today you talk about restructuring and consolidation, and yesterday you promised to restart the blast furnace and integral production. So what is the truth - production or shutdown under a different name?

If even your ministers are not sure whether domestic production needs protection or not, then it is clear that you do not have a plan, but are improvising at the expense of the workers.

Do we need to remind citizens how the Government's management ended 12 years ago? If they don't remember that far back, let's ask who repaired the key infrastructure facility on the railway line in the Federation?

Can we expect the Prime Minister to save the Railway by saving the Steel Mill, when he couldn't organize the repair of 100 meters of track?

Now we have heard some new terms - restructuring, consolidation, saving, strategic approach, and job protection. This is the same person who promised the workers of the Steel Mill to restart the blast furnace, restore integral production, and the workers believed him.

Relevant Minister Vedran Lakić said on Federal TV the other evening that 'perhaps we will not need protective measures', and the Prime Minister said today - that 'restructuring' will be done.

So, no production? Then why are you seizing someone else's property? Perhaps the answer lies in the Prime Minister's recent interview when he said that, regardless of the election outcome, he is retiring in October.

And what about the thousands of workers from Krivaja, mines, and shut-down systems during this and the previous term of Prime Minister Nikšić, to whom, absurdly, contributions for service and obligations were not paid in state-owned companies?", stated the Management of New Zenica Steel Mill.

They also point out that the economy does not function on statements, but on - numbers.

"Who would shut down something profitable? Nobody. But likewise - no serious businessman will finance losses and the chaos of a system. That's precisely where we get to the core of the problem.

Prime Minister, where is Energoinvest, which you praised so highly until yesterday? Where are the thousands of tons of steel for the highways? Why has a Federation company refused to buy even slag for the base course from the Steel Mill for years, while paying dearly for materials from private companies.

During your term, steel imports from Croatia increased by over 640%, while domestic production was sunk. It is clear to anyone reasonable that this is not about protecting industry, but about favoring import lobbies. Whom were you actually protecting - workers or imports?

At the same time, not a kilogram of Zenica steel has been incorporated into the Federation's highways. This is not a technical problem - it is a political decision and an industrial disgrace for the Government, which is a minority co-owner of the Steel Mill.

We are asking you very specific questions: Do you have at least 20 million euros for basic raw materials (coke and ore) alone - on a monthly basis? Where is the rest, maintenance, and other costs... Do you have five million KM per month for workers' salaries and contributions?

If you don't - then it's clear that you are not offering a solution, but an illusion. If you think you will finance your 'ingenious ideas' with other people's funds or citizens' money - you are gravely mistaken.

Such an approach leads to only one thing - the collapse of the system and potential international disputes worth hundreds of millions of KM, which will burden the Federation with enormous credit debt.

And that is why it is necessary to state clearly - blast furnaces are not started with statements, industry is not saved with Facebook statuses.

Your attempt to label every question as an attack or 'undermining the process' is particularly concerning. In a democratic society, seeking answers is not sabotage - it is an obligation.

If you are talking about 'shady dealings' and 'buying people', where is the evidence? Or is that also part of the populist narrative without accountability? The workers of New Zenica Steel Mill do not need statements and promises. They need contracts, production, investments, and secure jobs.

We know how - we have a clear and sustainable plan, presented to your people as well. But instead of talking and working, you are buying time and deceiving workers so you can seize a private company without consequences. You cannot. You do not have the owner's consent - and you never will.

What you are attempting today has nothing to do with saving - it is a violent political seizure and an experiment without backing.

And therefore, in the end, very clearly: we do not need your financial assistance. But do not prevent us from doing what is best for Zenica and the workers. Stop exploiting the emotions and fear of the workers and start making decisions based on facts.

Industry is not run by political pamphlets and state credit debt - industry is run by knowledge, responsibility, concrete decisions, and real investments", states the press release signed by the co-owner and general director of New Zenica Steel Mill, Ahmed Hamzić.