Hellenic Copper Mines (HCM) was formed in 1994 by Hellenic Mining Co Ltd, a Cypriot company and Oxiana NL an Australia company, later renamed to Oz Minerals. Since 2010, the shareholding of HCM is exclusively in the hands of Cypriot investors. The mission of HCM is to revive the country’s mining industry by exploiting the existing low grade copper and gold reserves of Cyprus, starting from the ancient mines of the Skouriotisa area which are located in the North-West of Cyprus. The company’s policy is to apply a state of the art and environmentally friendly technology for this exploitation. HCM was the first mining company in Europe to introduce in 1996 the modern cost-efficient and environmentally friendly technology of hydrometallurgy which would allow it to exploit the low grade copper reserves of the Skouriotissa mines. HCM exports 100% of its production to European destinations and since its formation it has produced and exported more than 60,000 tons of copper metal. The quality of our copper is classified among the top copper metals produced worldwide in terms of its purity (>99.999% Cu). HCM as an export oriented company has a significant contribution to the island’s economic growth in terms of incoming currency, employment and taxes.
Moreover, it operates in a rural remote zone and it offers employment to the local people of Solea district, thus contributing to the rehabilitation of such remote areas. Overall, HCM employs 70 people while at the same time, it indirectly offers part time work to many others for a number of outsourcing services provided to the company. Due to the advanced technology applied in the processing and production of copper, 25% of the employees are university graduates. The continuing training and development of its employees in order to cope with the on-going challenges of the mining industry is of a primary importance to the company.
Website: Hellenic Copper Mines, ltd