GEOTECHMIN | History

1990s

The history of GEOTECHMIN Group began by establishing a private company Geotechmin SVS-Consult Engineering. Three mining engineers - Prof. Dr. Velichko Stoyanov, Prof. Dr. Dimitar Subashki and Research Fellow M.Eng. Tzolo Voutov, all of them having extensive experience in mining and research works, founded a company providing consulting and engineering services for the mining sector. In the beginning, the company implemented projects on preliminary economic assessments, prefeasibility and feasibility studies and geological explorations.

December 1990

DESIGN, RESEARCH, AND DEVELOPMENT

1990 - 1995

Geotechmin's logo was created in 1991. The original idea of the designer Veselin Pentchev for a logo included an auger and a geological hammer woven into the Latin letters G, T and M – an abbreviation of GeoTechMin. The choice of both company name and logo was based on Geotechmin’s initial activity - geological exploration and consulting services in the mining sector.

1991

A project of strategic significance was the purchase and deployment of world-renowed mining software - DATAMINE and Whittle 4D, which allowed creating geostatistical models of Assarel and Ellatzite deposits, reserve and resource recalculation and assessment as well as economic optimization of mine designs in view of their further exploitation.

1990 - 1995

First steps in design and construction of mining projects and installations: a sand plant at Benkovski-1 Tailings Pond; General overhaul of Primary Crushing Unit KET-1. Our first large-scale turnkey project is Design and Construction of a new Primary Crushing Unit KET-2 at Ellatzite Mine.

1992 - 1995

Detailed design for modernization and reconstruction of Ellatzite copper mine, reconstruction and modernization of the existing explosive storage at Ellatzite Mine and construction of a new Explosives Factory for production of bulk and cartridge emulsion explosives applying a technology of the American company Austin Powder.

1993 - 1994

DESIGN AND CONSTRUCTION OF MINING AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROJECTS, RESIDENTIAL AND OFFICE BUILDINGS

1995 - 2000

In the second half of 1990s Geotechmin entered successfully into the civil engineering field and implemented its own investment projects. Among the major ones are the design and construction of Geotechmin's head office in Sofia, the first four-star hotel in Bansko resort and a new bridge over the River Glazne giving direct access to the new residential quarter in Bansko town.

1995 - 2000

Those years marked the beginning of geological exploration and drilling activities in the Group.

1995 - 2000

Design and repair of the Secondary and Fine Crushing Department in Ellatzite Flotation Plant (today Flotation Complex) near the village of Mirkovo.

1995 - 2000

Founding of Helix which is specialized in performing engineering-geological surveys.

1995

Design and construction of Benkovski-2 Tailings Pond. This is the most significant environmental project in Bulgaria in this period.

1996 - 1999

Geotechmin OOD is the first Bulgarian company to become a member of the International Tunnelling Association (ITA-AITES).

1997

Еstablishment of Geoohrana specilized in the sphere of safety and security.

1997

Capacity enlargement of the Small Lagoons - an Industrial Waste Landfill (for Union Miniere Pirdop Copper, now Aurubis Bulgaria).

1998 - 1999

Establishment of Explosiveprogress-GTM specialized in rendering consulting and engineering services within the scope of drill and blast operations.

1999

Privatization of Ellatzite Copper Mining Plant.

1999

NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND UNIQUE MINING AND INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS

2000 - 2005

At the end of 2000, preliminary and detailed designs of the project Reclamation of Benkovski-1 Tailings Pond were prepared, whereas the actual reclamation was carried out later (2004-2008).

2000

In order to optimize the mining processes by shortening transport distances and implementing new technologies, a new Primary Crushing Unit KET-3 was designed in 2003 and was subsequently built up during the period from 2006 to 2008.

2000 - 2005

Reconstruction of Buhovo Tailings Pond, Stage 2 (PHARE Project).

2000 - 2001

Construction of a Sulphuric Acid Plant for Umicore Med (now Aurubis Bulgaria).

2000 - 2001

Construction of a Metallurgical Waste Storage Depot for Umicore Med.

2000 - 2001

Closure and reclamation of an old slag dump for Umicore Med.

2000 - 2002

Construction of a Fayalite Tailings Pond with a total area of 150,000 sq.m. for Umicore Med.

2001 - 2002

First-time replacement of the rubber conveyor belt in the tunnel connecting the two main production units: the open-pit mine in the town of Etropole and the flotation plant near the village of Mirkovo.

2002

Launching the installation of a GPS vehicle tracking system in Ellatzite Mine.

2002

Capacity enlargement of the Small Lagoons, Stage 2 - new landfill for calcium-arsenate cakes with a total area of 14 decares and volume of 68,000 cub.m. (for Umicore Med, now Aurubis Bulgaria).

2002 - 2003

Strengthening of the Iskar River, south of Sofia Airport.

2002 - 2003

Launching the implementation of a five-year programme for eliminating previous damages in Ellatzite-Med resulting from pollution dated before its privatization.

2003

Considerable investments start to be made for upgrading or replacing equipment in Ellatzite Mine. New large hydraulic and electric excavators, drill rigs, 100-ton and 130-ton dumpers have been bought and put into operation.

2003 - 2005

Flotation Complex, village of Mirkovo - optimisation of the reagent schemes in the flotation process technology.

2003 - 2005

Flotation Complex, village of Mirkovo, Mill Department - for the first time in Bulgaria, an automatic ball mill charging system has been implemented. It leads to higher efficiency.

2003 - 2005

Reconstruction, Development and Еxtension of Sofia Airport - Lot B2 - New Runway System and Related Works. The project also includes two sub-projects: Civil works on a New Runway System and Correction of the Iskar River

2003 - 2006

Design of the first stage of Ellatzite Life of Mine Extension Project until the year 2011. In the course of extending its LoM, Ellatzite mine has become an extremely complex industrial facility. This called for a change in the design and planning, management and operation of all mining and technological processes.

2004

Founding of two subsidiary companies: Energeo specilized in the implementation of energy, engineering and environmental projects and solutions, markets and services; and Centrе for Management and Vocational Training.

2004

Reclamation of Benkovski-1 Tailings Pond (Design and Construction).

2004 - 2008

METRO CONSTUCTION, MICRO HYDROPOWER PLANTS, ROADS AND WIND GENERATORS

2005 - 2010

Registration of new subsidiaries: Geoproject, Geostroy, Geotrading.

2005

A new Infrastructure Business Unit was set up and a number of companies operating in transport, road and urban infrastructure were acquired - Road Maintenance - Sofia, Road Maintenance - Lom, Road Maintenance - Godech, Road Maintenance - Berkovitsa, Bekastroy Samokov.

2005

Reconstruction, Development and Extension of Sofia Airport - Lot B1 - Construction of a New Terminal.

2005 - 2006

Sofia Metro Extension Project: Vasil Levski Stadium Metro Station. Geotechmin has executed all structures of Vasil Levski Metro Station and a start shaft for vertical access of the tunnel boring machine (TBM).

2005 - 2009

Еstablishment of Road Company.

2006

Design of the second stage of Ellatzite Life of Mine Extension Project until the year 2016.

2006

Privatization of the companies Roads and Equipment and SKGT Transremontstroy.

2006

Design and construction of a transport tunnel at KET-3 in Ellatzite Mine.

2006 - 2008

Construction of a new Primary Crushing Unit KET-3 in Ellatzite Mine (equipped with two crushers Allis and Krupp). For the implementation of this project Ellatzite-Med received the prize "Investor of the Year" in 2009 .

2006 - 2009

Construction of Micro Hydropower Plants "Svrazhen" and "Lakatnik" - Stage 1 of Sreden Iskar Cascade Project.

2006 - 2009

Privatization of Ulichno Osvetlenie.

2007

Construction of a water management system at Maritza East-3 Thermoelectric Power Plant.

2007 - 2008

Design and construction of connecting tunnel "Dragan Tsankov" between the existing tramway tunnel under Dragan Tsankov Blvd and Vasil Levski Stadium Metro Station.

2007 - 2008

Driving of a hydrotechnical tunnel for polluted waters on the Negarshtitsa River.

2007 - 2009

Signing a contract with Belshina OJSC, Republic of Belarus, for exclusive representation of Belshina tyres. Signing a distribution rights agreement for the sale of Michelin tyres.

2008

Patstroy-92 joins GEOTECHMIN Group. Еstablishment of Geotravel, a company specializing in providing tourism services.

2008

Design and Restoration of the Molybdenum Concentrate Production Plant in the Flotation Complex, village of Mirkovo.

2008 - 2009

Design of the third stage of Ellatzite Life of Mine Extension Project until the year 2021.

2008 - 2009

Construction of base foundations for 14 wind generators in the region of Kavarna, Kamen Bryag and Shabla.

2008 - 2009

Construction of a wastewater treatment facility at level 950 m in Ellatzite Mine.

2008 - 2010

Signing the first framework agreement for a long-term technical cooperation with the Japanese company Mitsubishi Materials Techno Corporation (MMTEC).

2009

Construction of a water treatment facility for phosphorus-containing wastewater at Agropolychim AD, Devnya.

2009 - 2011

Design and construction of James Bourchier Metro Station, an adjoining tunnel and an underground car park above the two facilities. This is the deepest metro station that has been built so far.

2009 - 2011

Participation of Patstroy-92 in the construction of Lot 4, Rehabilitation of a Road Section from Road I-6 Sofia - Pirdop (length 55.7 km). The project is under the Government Investment Loans Programme funded by the International Bank for Development and the national budget.

2009 - 2012

Chelopech Tailings Management Facility – Buttress Construction Project.

2010 - 2011

Rehabilitation of a Road Section III-181 Sofia Ring Road - Kovachevtsi village.

2010 - 2011

Participation of Patstroy-92 in the construction of a Regional Landfill for Non-Hazardous Waste for Botevgrad, Etropole and Pravets Municipalities.

2010 - 2012

Construction of Micro Hydropower Plants "Tserovo" and "Opletnya" - Stage 2 of Sreden Iskar Cascade Project.

2010 - 2012

WITH SUSTAINABLE CONTRIBUTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

2010 - 2015

Trade Business Unit has consolidated its positions as an authorised dealer and full customer service provider for construction, agriculture and mining equipment, tyres, fuels and lubricants.

2010 – 2015

Construction of municipal waste treatment facilities is a new line of business where the Group has been actively involved. Individually or in consortiums, the companies from GEOTECHMIN GROUP take part in the construction of Sofia Metro, motorways, non-hazardous waste landfills, wastewater treatment facilities and other related projects.

2010 – 2015

Construction of Sadinata Non-Hazardous Waste Landfill, WWTP and Reception Area.

2011 - 2012

Struma Motorway, Lot 1, Dolna Dikanya-Dupnitsa Road Section (length 16.780 km).

2011 - 2013

Еstablishment of a new company Geo Facilities which provides fully integrated facility management services.

2011 - 2013

Construction of a modern irrigation system at Benkovski-2 Tailings Pond.

2011 - 2013

Electricity trading license

2012

Launching a new partnership with the Dutch manufacturer VPS International b.v. for authorized representation of Rymax lubricants.

2012

Construction of a Wastewater Treatment Facility on the territory of Ellatzite mine using an innovative technology of Mitsubishi Materials Techno Corporation (ММТЕС), Japan.

2012 - 2014

Construction of a Raw Vermiculite Separation Installation for production of enriched raw vermiculite and exfoliated vermiculite located in the village of Gara Elin Pelin, Sofia region.

2012 - 2014

Construction of a New Production Line at Devnya Cement Plant.

2012 - 2014

Construction of a Multifunctional Complex "San Stefano Plaza", Sofia.

2012 - 2015

Launching the fourth stage of Ellatzite Life of Mine Extension Project.

2013

Signing a framework agreement for a long-term technical cooperation with the Japanese company Mitsubishi Materials Techno Corporation (MMTEC). Both companies will work together on the construction of wastewater treatment facilities and other significant projects in Bulgaria and abroad.

2013

Launching a new partnership for authorized representation for Bulgaria with the first producer of modern wheel loaders in China – LiuGong

2013

Comprehensive detailed design for extraction of porphyry-copper ores, disposal of mine tailings, conservation and rehabilitation of mine sites on the territory of Ellatzite mine. Project for reclamation of Benkovski-2 Tailings Pond until the year 2021.

2013 - 2014

Business Park Sofia Metro Station and 1-km adjoining metro tunnel. This is the first metro project executed on a design-build basis.

2013 - 2015

Reconstruction and modernization of a municipal solid waste landfill for the needs of Gabrovo and Tryavna municipalities.

2013 - 2015

Struma Motorway, Lot 2, Dupnitsa-Blagoevgrad Road Section (length 37 km).

2013 - 2015

Launching technological trials of a new wastewater treatment facility on the territory of Ellatzite mine. It is the first facility in Europe which has adopted this innovative technology of Mitsubishi Materials Techno Corporation (MMTEC).

2014

New production. Construction of modern production installations customized to the strategic project Struma Motorway: for production of polymer modified bitumens at the asphalt mixing plant "Boboshevo"; for production of diluted bitumen at the asphalt mixing plant "Kostinbrod"; Triman ITM-270 mobile impact crusher for on-site crushing of rocks.

2014

Еstablishment of ITR Services with main activities: construction, maintenance and utilization of computing centres, data storage and processing centres, maintenance of electornic communication networks and providing Internet access, voice services, creating and servicing information networks.

2014

Transfer Station for Municipal Waste, Kazanluk. The project is part of a waste management system in Stara Zagora.

2014 - 2015

Regional Waste Management Centre Samokov.

2014 - 2015

Launching a joint pilot installation for on-site treatment of heavy metal contaminated mine effluents using a technology of MMTEC. This technology is well known as "Green Rust" and is based on a chemical method. The project is implemented in a modular trial facility located on the territory of the former Hydrometallurgical Treatment Plant “Metallurg” near the town of Buhovo.

2014 - 2015

Launching a new Automated Industrial Control System at the Secondary and Fine Crushing Department in the Flotation Plant, Mirkovo village.

2014 - 2015

Establishment of Geogreenland which specializes in the sphere of agricultural production.

2015

Overbuilding of a new fayalite tailings pond at Aurubis Bulgaria - Stage 3.

2015

For the first time in the mining industry in Bulgaria, Ellatzite-Med AD has put into operation a new generation of digital controllers in the most energy-consuming process of the technological flowchart - the excitation and operation of synchronous motors driving the ball mills in the Flotation Plant, Mirkovo village.

2015

SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND DEVELOPMENT

2016

In accordance with the water management concept of Ellatzite mine complex, more than 10 km of underground mine workings were built to secure mine drainage.

2015 - 2016

A new state-of-the-art fleet management system DISPATCH was introduced to carry out and control mining processes in Ellatzite mine. By implementing the high-precision positioning system Provision, Ellatzite’s specialists successfully control the precise performance of all digging and drilling operations. This is a new approach to process control for all mining operations.

2015 - 2016

Second-time replacement of the rubber conveyor belt in the tunnel connecting the open-pit mine near the town of Etropole and the flotation plant near the village of Mirkovo.

2016

Starting construction of Zemlyane Metro Depot for storage and maintenance of wagons and locomotives for the third metro line of Sofia Metro. The project is being implemented on "design and build" basis.

2016

Launching construction and assembly works on Lot 3.3 of Struma Motorway, Kresna - Sandanski Road Section. The section has a total length of 23.6 km.

2016

Commencing work on the project "Reconstruction, Overhaul, Renovation and Extension of an Existing Building" at the American College of Sofia

2016

2016 - Implementation of one of the first energy efficiency projects with guaranteed result (ESCO contract) in the sphere of street lighting. The project is executed on the territory of Sapareva Banya Municipality.

2016

Etropolia Multifunctional Complex opens doors in the town of Etropole. Ellatzite-Med AD is the investor and Geostroy is the contractor of the project.

2017

Ellatzite-Med AD receives an Innovation Award from the Bulgarian Chamber of Mining and Geology in the category “Large-Scale Enterprises” for the implementation of the machine guidance system ProVision® - a superstructure of DISPATCH® Fleet Management System.

2017

Geostroy AD has been honoured to receive its third gold award from the Bulgarian Construction Chamber for achieving best construction results.

2017

Patstroy-92 AD was awarded the prize in the category “Construction” at the official ceremony of Mr&Mrs Economics 2017 Competition.

2017

Prof. Dr. Tzolo Voutov, President of Geotechmin OOD and Mr. Hiroaki Anzai, President of the Japanese company Mitsubishi Materials Techno Corporation (MMTEC) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding for providing technical skills transfer by Geotechmin OOD to young geologists and mining engineers from the Japanese company.

2017

For the first time in Europe, Ellatzite-Med AD has received a customer appreciation award for the implementation of the innovative production system CYCLONEtrac PST, which has brought about an entirely new level of control, management and optimization of particle size tracking in the flotation process of the ore grinding process in the Flotation Complex.

2018

An innovative technology for residue mud farming was implemented during 2018 at Benkovski-2 Tailings Pond. The approach uses a specialized machine called MudMaster.

2018

Implementation of MineSight® planning system - a comprehensive modeling and mine planning software platform in Ellatzite-Med AD

2018

Geostroy AD completed the reconstruction of an existing building at the American College of Sofia

2018

Geotrading AD gained the exclusive rights to sell chemical reagents produced by the Serbian plant Župa Kruševac - one of the largest chemical manufacturers in the world

2018

Geotrading AD was granted the exclusive sales rights for the high-quality mining industry products of Shareate Tools Ltd on the territory of Bulgaria.

2018

Commissioning and start-up of Hydroelectric Power Plant “Chereshovitsa” near the town of Etropole

2019

Ellatzite-Med AD implemented a project for upgrading the Grinding Process Information Management System in the Flotation Complex.

2019

Prof. DSc. Eng. Tzolo Voutov was honoured with a special award for his outstanding contribution to the Bulgarian economy, scientific research and development at the annual Investor of the Year Awards given by Invest Bulgaria Agency.

2019

As a partner in a consortium, Geostroy AD signed a contract with the National Railway Infrastructure Company for design and construction of Rehabilitation of Koprivshtitsa – Stryama Railway Section.

2019

President of Geotechmin OOD Prof. DSc. Eng. Tzolo Voutov received the special award of the Chairman of the Confederation of Employers and Industrialists in Bulgaria (KRIB) for overall contribution to the development of the Bulgarian economy.

2019

Pursuant to the government’s proposal, President Rumen Radev issued a decree to award Prof. DSc. Eng. Tzolo Voutov the Order Stara Planina, First Degree for his exceptional contribution and merits to the economic development of Bulgaria and establishment of contemporary industrial relations.

2019

Ellatzite-Med celebrate two momentous anniversaries - 44 years since the establishment of Ellatzite Copper Mining and Processing Plant and 20 years since the company joined GEOTECHMIN GROUP.

2019

Ellatzite-Med AD signed a five-year technology partnership agreement with Hexagon’s Mining Division. Hexagon is a global leader in sensor, software and autonomous solutions

2019

The construction of a wastewater treatment plant for drainage waters was completed in Benkovski-2 Tailings Pond.

2019

Geotrading AD became the exclusive partner of Rolls-Royce’s business unit Power Systems with its product and solution brand MTU for the mining industry in Bulgaria.

2019

Geometro Zemlyane Consortium comprising Geostroy AD as leader and Transremontstroy EAD and BIAS-M EOOD as members completed the project for design and construction of Zemlyane Metro Depot. The project is of key importance for commissioning Line 3 of Sofia Metro.

2019

ITR Services EOOD became an official partner of GURTAM for Bulgaria for distribution of the GPS tracking and fleet management platform Wialon and applicable software within IoT framework and telematics projects.

2019

New flotation cell banks for rough flotation were put into operation in the Grinding and Flotation Department of the Flotation Complex, Mirkovo village.

2019

Patishta 2016 – First Stage Consortium comprising Geostroy AD as leader and Patstroy-92 AD, Roads and Equipment EAD and Dimas AD as partners completed the rehabilitation of Lot 2, Road II-81 Kostinbrod – Buchin Prohod.

2019

GEOPAT LOT 1 Consortium comprising Geostroy AD as leader and Patstroy-92 AD signed a contract with Road Infrastructure Agency for design and construction of Lot 1 of Road I-1(E-79) Mezdra – Botevgrad. The total length of the road section is 19.3 km.

2019