Dear citizens, Dobšinčania. You surely noticed that there is...

Dear citizens, Dobšinčania. You surely noticed that there is activity in our "forests" that is not directly related to forestry. We would therefore like to inform you of the intention that would be of great benefit to our city. As you all know, our city was created thanks to the mining, which was a great deal in the past. Thanks to this activity, the city grew, thrived and flourished. Unfortunately, by the end of this mining activity, the city started the way we got to the state it is today. Everyone sees the situation, it is not necessary to break it down here.

Nowadays, in our neighborhood as well as on our urban plots, research is carried out on the mineral resources that our country is hiding in the form of cobalt ores. This research was carried out in the first phase of research on historical documents, maps and, on the basis of positive conclusions, began the second phase, which underwent various measurements with state-of-the-art technology and without any interference with nature. The conclusion from the measurements is clear. Dobšiná and its surroundings have huge finds of cobalt ores, so it is currently starting with the third phase of research, which already includes exploration wells, ridges and rebuilding (opening of old mines). All these research papers cover for the Australian investor CE Metals sro, which has all the necessary authorizations on a state-based basis, based on the protection of the environment, and, of course, works with Dobšiná in all things. As the third phase already takes the form of boreholes and grooves to landscaping and interference with the land owned by the city, the city asked ML Dobšiná sro, as the administrator of this town property, to give expert advice on these interventions.

Our company has considered this issue positively, with conditions for field modifications to the original condition after the completion of the research work. The town of Dobšiná also gave the Green Town Council a third phase of research that will confirm the reality and the size of the site. The Australian investor is not a newcomer, and exactly such a cobalt ore mine operates in Africa. Investors' representatives have visited our city several times, and their approach as well as the approach of the research company guarantees an absolutely serious approach to informing ongoing works, their conclusions and, of course, with respect to our beautiful surrounding countryside. By confirming and ending the research itself, the possibility of restarting mining activity will become possible, which becomes more realistic. For our city, as well as for the surroundings, the opening of the mine would be of great importance especially in terms of employment, but not least in the development of Dobšiná and the raising of the citizens' living standards. It remains to be hoped that the third phase of research will confirm all previous findings and the opening of the mines will become a reality. We asked CE Metals sro to introduce this project.

Jan Slovák, Mayor of Dobšiná



Statement of CE METALS sro: We take advantage of the opportunity provided by the City of Dobšiná to introduce ourselves to CE Metals sro and at the same time have informed you of our intention to revive a new geological survey of memories of centuries of history and fame in this touristy attractive area.

The Slovak company CE Metals sro, which is based in Bratislava, is the daughter of Australian FY EuropeanCobal. Our company was founded in November 2016, and later acquired the "Geological Approval" to carry out a geological survey.

In February 2017, the Department of the Environment commissioned our exploration area in the middle of the former deposit area to conduct a search in the past for so intensively mined ores for 4 years. This area with an area of almost 7 km 2 is situated to the north of Dobšiná. It spreads up to the northern slopes of the famous hill Kruhová (fig.).

In March 2017, the Ministry of the Environment approved the "Geological Task Project" for the implementation of the planned search survey methods. Subsequently, our company also introduced its intention to the town of Dobšiná, which in its "Opinion" expressed its consent.

There was a time when geologists of the company had to choose geological methods and procedures in a short space of time to adequately examine existing data on complicated geological and deposit ratios. Especially because nowadays more knowledge is not enough.

Therefore, the first stage of the work in the Kruhová area was the beginning of July, the surface sampling of samples from the old mining works and special geophysical measurements. These methods were temporary and work did not reach the soil layer, so they did not have any impact on the environment. We have been lucky enough from the beginning. From the precise documentation of the studied area and the geophysical measurements, results were obtained showing the presence of rocks suitable for the occurrence and continuation of the excavated veins in depth (Fig.).

Thus, the geological methods used to demonstrate the intention to continue in the second stage with technical geological works, namely: - excavation of geological documentation grooves, - drilling of geological boreholes (deep up to 200 m) from the surface, - mining of the old mining galleon Joremenyi.

All these technical works are scheduled to begin in October - weather is appropriate, in the same part of the area under review as in the previous stage. Scheduled work will be re-performed temporarily within the specified time period. Methods that will already be applied to the soil layer will be used. However, the conditions for their implementation are designed to minimize the impact and interference with the surrounding environment and the terrain has completely returned to its original condition after completion of the work. A few months in the reclaimed terrain will not know the place where the work was done.

An indispensable condition is that all technical work will be carried out on the identified parcels in the cadastral area only after obtaining appro- priate opinions on the entry of the property from the owners. The course and execution of technical works, including documentation, will be checked by the Ministry of the Environment in the field.

When we commented at the beginning of our contribution that CE Metals' goal was to revive the history of this beautiful part of Slovakia, we thought that all technical geological work - whether drilling or mining - would be done exclusively in cooperation with specialized Slovak companies and local residents.

We were informed about this intention of our company by the City of Dobšiná represented by Mayor Jan Slovák at the first meeting. We are convinced that, thanks to this fact, in every case, extraordinary help and help from the city is shown to us, as we sincerely thank. That is why we would like to fulfill our vision for the future - contributing to the characteristic activity of the past - by banning the redevelopment of this once largest cobalt deposit in the world.