Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov presents a special award to Tim Kurth on Metallurgy Day

Tim Kurth, Managing Director of Aurubis Bulgaria for the past 11 years and two-term President of the German-Bulgarian Chamber, was honored for his outstanding contribution to the development of Bulgarian metallurgy. The special award was presented by Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov at a ceremony marking Metallurgy Day in Sofia.

I am grateful that my work at Aurubis Bulgaria has also given me the opportunity to collaborate with all of you - the Bulgarian industry, communities, academia, trade unions, and local and national authorities. Bulgaria will always remain in my heart,

Tim Kurth said.

Aurubis Bulgaria was awarded for its large-scale investments and contribution to the national economy. The prize was presented to Dr. Toralf Haag, Aurubis AG CEO, and Rakan Rahbani, the new Managing Director of Aurubis Bulgaria, by Dr. Nikola Rangelov, Chairman of the Bulgarian Association of the Metallurgical Industry (BAMI) - the ceremony host.

It is an honor for the Aurubis Group to be part of Bulgaria’s industrial community. Our plant in the Srednogorie region contributes to the sustainable development of copper production and plays a key role in the European market,

Dr. Haag said at the ceremony.

Aurubis is the largest investor in Bulgaria’s industrial sector in recent years. The company is implementing a four-year program, “Investments for Progress. Bulgaria 2027”, worth BGN 800 M, aimed at production expansion, renewable capacities, energy efficiency, modernization, and environmental performance enhancement. The investment program was launched under the leadership of Tim Kurth.

This award belongs to our entire team. Their dedication, professionalism, and commitment are the foundation of our success. This is the decade of metals, and through its investments, Aurubis will continue to play a key role in supplying the copper that our society needs,

Rakan Rahbani, Aurubis Bulgaria Managing Director said.

Awards were also presented to students from the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, the Technical University, and to companies from the sector at the BAMI ceremony.

“Metallurgy accounts for 5% of Bulgaria’s GDP and 12% of exports, making it a structurally defining sector for the country and of significance for Europe. This is not an industry from black-and-white movies – it is full of color and added value,” Prime Minister Rosen Zhelyazkov emphasized at the event. He added that the sector remains resilient and holds strong potential for development within a well-functioning single market.