Canada's Dundee Precious Metals Inc. was granted a major investor certificate for a project they have been implementing in the Chelopech copper works, some 50 km east of the capital Sofia, the InvestBulgaria agency reported. Dundee Precious Metals has been operating in Bulgaria through its subsidiary, Chelopech Mining, since September 2003. Dundee Precious is the second foreign investor after Germany's Lindner to obtain this licence which entitles its holder to individual administrative service and to state support in the construction of adjacent infrastructure. The Canadians have pledged to invest BGN 124.4 mln in the refurbishment of the mine and its flotation unit over the next two years. Dundee Precious plans to expand the Chelopech mine's capacity, to extract 1.5 mln tons of copper ore annually - up from 620,000 tons in 2004 and 550,000 tons in 2003. The introduction of new technologies will make it possible to process the copper concentrate at the mine's flotation unit. The mining company also plans to build more manufacturing and warehousing facilities over an area of 1,5 sq km. Chelopech Mining said it will not request help from the state for the construction of adjacent infrastructure. The investor, however, will count on individual administrative support to make sure project deadlines are met. The company also said it will invest a considerable amount of money in eco projects. Another 15 applications for investor certificates have been deposited with the InvestBulgaria agency, of which four companies have come up with projects worth over BGN 100 mln and seven with projects exceeding BGN 50 mln.