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All historical periods of Kosovo-Ilirik, Roman, Medieval, Turkish, and former Yugoslavian-are linked with the intensive development of mining and metallurgy. This activity influenced and siili is influencing the overall position of Kosovo as a country. For example, according to a 2006 World Bank report as well as other studies, Kosovo has potential lignite resources (geological reserves) of about 1.5 billion tonnes, which are ranked fifth in the world in importance. Other significant Kosovan mineral resources include lead, zinc, gold, silver, bauxite, and uranium, and rare metals accompanying those minerals, including indium, cadmium, thallium, gallium, and bismuth. These rare metals are of particular importance in developing advanced industrial technologies. Kosovo also has reserves of high-quality non-metals, including magnesite, quartz grit, bentonite, argil, talc, and asbestos. No database exists for these non-metal reserves, and further research and studies are needed.
INTRODUCTION
With a territory of 10,887 km^sup 2^ and about 2 million inhabitants, Kosovo is located in southeastern Europe (Balkans). Until 1999, Kosovo was a federal unit of Yugoslavia. However, on 17 February 2008 it became an independent and sovereign country.
The metallurgy of Kosovo is based on processing the colored metal minerals (Pb, Zn, Ag, Au) and ferronickel (Fe-Ni) (Figure 1). and on developing certain capacities in the metal processing industry. Energy sources include lignite, gas, and electricity.
The production capacity in Kosovo for extractive metallurgy, processing metallurgy, and materials is inadequate. Construction of industrial capacity in Kosovo was restricted under the former Yugoslavia. The process of reactivating facilities that had been idled under Yugoslavian rule has faced many challenges including the poor physical state of the facilities, questionable property ownership, and Kosovo's unresolved political statutes. Thus, huge obstacles exist to donor support and foreign investments.
The greatest development challenge for private as well as national and international institutions will be adjusting in a direction determined by the experience of developed countries. The model to be applied depends upon many factors and the specifics of each process.
Development of industry in Kosovo began relatively late, mainly after the 1950s. Significant progress occurred during the 1970s and 1980s, when industry became the most important economic sector in Kosovo. By the end of the 1980s, industry constituted the maximum portion of the gross domestic product (GDP) in...