Lead and zinc producer, Sometra Copsa Mica announces a temporary and partial shut down of activity, a decision that leaves 80% of the company's employees without a job, Romanian news agency Mediafax informs. The decision is motivated by the current international economic situation that lead to a decrease of demand and of the prices for the two commodities, the company reads in a press release.

The factory will enter a process of conservation and maintenance, in accordance with the Romanian legislation. The rest of 20% of employees remaining at the company will deal with the process.

Company officials announced that they would offer financial help for those to be dismissed. Sometra Copsa Mica is part of the Mytilineos group, owning important companies in the mining, energy and defense ministry. Mytilineos was first set up in Greece in 1990 and has over 3000 employees in Greece and internationally.