Serbia seeks partner to revive Bor copper complex

BELGRADE, July 11 (Reuters) - Serbia launched its third effort to privatise troubled copper complex RTB Bor on Friday, this time looking for a strategic partner instead of a new owner.

RTB was run down in the 1990s when Serbia faced sanctions for its role in the Yugoslav wars, and is estimated to have debts of $500 million.

Attempts to sell it to Romania's Cuprom and Austria's A-TEC (ATEC.VI: Quote, Profile, Research, Stock Buzz) in the last two years both fell through at the last minute.

A tender published in Politika daily said only companies with annual production of more than 80,000 tones of pure copper or over 100,000 tones of cathode copper would be eligible.

It did not give any other terms.

From August 1 to September, 26 potential investors will be able to meet RTB Bor management and inspect the facilities, the tender said. They have until September 30 to send a letter of interest.

Despite pulling out in April, A-TEC has said it is still interested in RTB, if the price is lower than the $466 million it had originally pledged to pay.

(Reporting by Ivana Sekularac; Editing by Quentin Bryar)