Prime Minister Emil Dimitriev said that the Zletovo and Toranica lead and zinc mines can be restarted within two months, following their take-over by the Bulgarian Minstroy company. Asked about the prospect for the two major employers in eastern Macedonia which were recently closed due to bankruptcy of their managing company, Dimitriev said that currently the property of the mines is being sold to the future Bulgarian owner.

"It is one matter to award a concession on exploitation of raw materials to the company, which we have done, and another for the company to purchase the property of the mines. We have spent a lot of time clearing up the mortgages put upon the property by the previous owner, and all of these claims have been cleared in a court procedure, including the appeal by the previous owner", Dimitriev said.

The Prime Minister said that, ideally, by mid July Zletovo could restart work and Toranica would join in a month or two later, given the technical issues that have developed with parts of the mine. The two mines are major employers in the towns of Probistip and Kriva Palanka.