Who we are
Sometra S.A. Copsa Mica is an industrial company situated in the center of Romania, historically specialized in lead, zinc and other nonferrous materials.Investing for a clean future
Through a responsible approach, Sometra is currently changing the face of Copsa Mica. We care about the environment and we want to help the local and national economy create new opportunities using the most modern technology available.Our Company’s growth and business excellence are guided by the moral principles and values that
maintain our alliance with society, our people and the environment
Sometra Mission & Values
Our duty is to create value for our clients, business partners and shareholders.
Our rules of ethical and professional conduct and our corporate values rely on three key elements:
Business Excellence
We are pursuing the continuous improvement of our performance as to achieve optimal business results.
Human Capital
Our business success is based on our people. We value team spirit, integrity, communication & transparency, professionalism, workplace health & safety.
Society & Environment
We transform corporate social responsibility into daily practice, focusing on socially responsible development, assimilation of trust with local communities, respect towards environment.
Sometra Management Board
CHRISTOS EFSTATHIADIS
CEO
MIHAI HUDAK
Process Research & Development Manager
IULIA BATOKHA
Administrative Manager
The history of SOMETRA
Sometra (abbreviation for Societatea Metalurgica Transilvana) began operating as a zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) metal primary producer.
The only zinc metallurgical plant from Romania is built in Copsa Mica.
The company is nationalized.
Waelz kiln no. 1 installation is built.
Waelz kiln no. 2 is built.
Negotiation with ISP (Imperial Smelting Process), an English company, begins.
Equipment which can process simultaneously zinc and lead concentrates is put into operation, active until 2008, achieving a maximum annual production capacity of 50,000mt Zn metal and 20,000mt of Pb metal.
Sometra adds a new line of simultaneous extraction of Zn and Pb from mining concentrates, using ISP technology: ISP Sinter Plant II, ISP Furnace Plant and Decoppering Plant II.
(starting) The decades-long activity in Copsa Mica has led to the forming of a large “halda” (slag landfill). Economic and environmental conditions lead to numerous pieces of equipment being put out of operation. Part of them are included in a controlled demolition and environmental improvement process, which continues to date.
Sometra’s main shareholder becomes MYTILINEOS, one of Greece’s leading industrial companies.
The plant reduces its activity, stopping most polluting processes. Ever since, extensive environmental cleaning works are undertaken - read about them in our Sustainability section.
Growth through Care and Investments
Our approach is to become an example for all companies in Romania and the region through a strategy based on gradual recycling of the stored waste, using top technologies, with zero negative impact on the environment in alignment with EU directives.How
In July 2014, Sometra started to operate a pilot waste recycling facility (Waelz kiln) to test the possibility to produce zinc (Zn) and lead (Pb) oxides, giving new impetus and prospects to the unit.
Since the raw material is not a typical one and there is no standard practice for its treatment, the Company undertook extensive research to find ways to efficiently manage and process it. Sometra invested $3,000,000 into scientific research to determine the most environmentally friendly and at the same time viable solution of treating the raw material. In 2017, and following extensive research performed by the internationally accredited Surveyor SGS, the average Zn and Pb content of the raw material is estimated to be 7.5% and 2.6% respectively.
In collaboration with the internationally accredited Polish Institute of Non-Ferrous Metals (IMN), Sometra performed a series of laboratory and pilot scale tests and the conclusion was that the application of the Waelz technology is the optimum solution. The Waelz process is a method of recovering Zn and Pb and other relatively low boiling point metals from metallurgical waste using a rotary kiln (Waelz kiln), with the addition of metallurgical coke fines. The Pilot test has successfully demonstrated the technical feasibility for processing (recycling) of landfill slag, obtaining two sellable products: Waelz oxides and clinker Waelz.
An investment is planned for the period of 2018 – 2020 on improvement & renovation works to the existing infrastructure of Sometra plant so that the new planned investment is properly supported. The Company intends to commence construction and erection of the 2 new Waelz kilns as soon as possible with the purpose of both kilns being fully operational in 2020.