Despite coming from a mining town in Eastern Serbia, Sanja got her start in the industry in an unusual way. With the connections from the restaurant she worked at, she found a low-bed truck for some drillers and a new job in the process.
In 2006, Sanja began working with IDS. Later, she joined MRS Morocco and moved to Ghana to become a General Manager. In 2014, Sanja took the position of a Mud Engineer and Sales Manager for Eastern Europe and Central Asia for IMDEX.
Since starting Reflex Drilling Serbia with her business partner in 2017, the company has grown steadily, and they have achieved many milestones in the country, including designing their own customized drill rig.
Sanja emphasizes taking the most positive aspects of all these experiences, spanning nearly 20 years and several continents.
Grigor Topev: It’s a pleasure to have you as our guest interviewee at Coring Magazine! I like to start every interview with the same question: how did you first get into the drilling industry, and what drew you to it?
Sanja Prvulovic: I am from a mining town in Eastern Serbia, but it’s not that I knew what drilling was at that time. I finished a Business Academy, specializing in Customs and Taxes, but getting a job in a profession was always hard in Serbia, so I worked in a restaurant, and my English was passable—just enough to get by. One day, a guest asked if I knew someone with a lowbed truck for rig transport. The only one in town had broken down, and they had been searching for days without success. Working in a restaurant meant getting to know a lot of people, so within 12 hours, I found a replacement for them. That simple connection changed everything—a job offer followed, and that’s how my journey in drilling began.
GT: Could you please tell us more about your professional journey and the companies you have worked for?
Sanja Prvulovic: In 2006, I started working for IDS, an Australian-owned company. It was a real challenge to be working with people from different countries and different cultures. Being the only woman on site didn’t make things easier. I constantly needed to prove myself and work twice as hard to gain the trust of my colleagues. In the end, I was rewarded.
In 2008, the company and projects were sold to Capital Drilling, one of the biggest companies in the industry. This transition was a great opportunity to see firsthand how one of the most successful drilling companies at that time operated, organized people, and trained them. We met many skilled people and had a good exchange of experience.
One long year after the Global Financial Crisis, I got an offer to work in Morocco with MRS Morocco, which I gladly accepted, and was with them until we moved to Ghana. We were the same company but under a different name: Reflex Drilling Ghana. I was there until the market slowed down in 2013.
As with every crisis, new opportunities are born, so that’s how I became part of the IMDEX Group. After a very good training session in Western Australia, I started working as a Mud Engineer and Sales Manager for Eastern Europe and Central Asia for the next three years.
GT: You mentioned working in Ghana for several years. What made an impression on you there and what lessons did you learn from this experience?
Sanja Prvulovic: Working in Ghana as a General Manager was very exciting and challenging at the same time. The culture was different, but the people were very friendly, kind, and easy to work with. What stood out to me were the opportunities available there. The country is rich in different minerals, but at the same time, very poor in everything else like infrastructure, health services, etc. I was getting used to living in Europe and having everything at hand, and Ghana was totally the opposite.
GT: You are the Managing Director of Reflex Drilling, Serbia. Tell us more about the company and how you started it.
Sanja Prvulovic: Reflex Drilling began with an idea from my former boss, James. In 2013, when many projects had come to a halt, he decided to step away from the drilling industry. At the time, I was working as a Mud Engineer, and through my experience, I had built strong connections in the drilling field. Some of them expressed interest in renting rigs from James, but he was hesitant to lease equipment to people he didn’t personally know. Instead, he suggested that I take on the responsibility, and that’s how my business partner, Taner Tahir, and I started a company.
After a period of renting equipment, we decided to buy the company, and I want to take this moment to once again thank James for the trust and opportunity he gave us. Since starting Reflex Drilling in 2017, we have grown steadily, becoming busier each year, and today our company is the preferred partner for our clients.
GT: What makes clients choose Reflex over other companies offering similar services?
Sanja Prvulovic: I would say a professional approach and flexibility while maintaining high-quality drilling services, close and friendly communication, and connections with our clients. We pride ourselves on making quick, informed decisions and providing effective solutions to keep operations running smoothly on our well-maintained equipment, continual investment in new technology and rigs, and development.
GT: Tell us more about your team. Is it difficult to attract new talent into the drilling industry?
Sanja Prvulovic: Our team is truly our own—most of them have been with us from the very beginning. We take pride in training our people from offsiders into drillers and supervisors, and they are loyal; once they join us, they stay.
On some occasions, when workload demands increase, we bring in external drillers, though we prefer to train our own. Learning the Reflex way from the start ensures consistency, and clients appreciate seeing familiar, trusted faces on every project.
As for attracting new talent, we’ve observed a decline in interest in drilling careers. Many seek easy and relaxed jobs, and we find that fewer people possess the drive and determination needed for this demanding industry. The energy, spirit, and ambition to excel in drilling are becoming harder to find.
GT: What was the most challenging project you’ve tackled? Tell us about it.
Sanja Prvulovic: I would say a project we are currently working on – the famous Čoka Rakita Project by DPM. When we started 2017, holes were shallow – up to 500 m (1640 ft) in depth, and I can freely say easy to drill.
But these days, you cannot find a project with shallow holes; they are all beyond 1000 m (3281 ft), and in very challenging ground conditions. Doing a lot of directional drilling and passing through many fault zones.
Lucky for us, a satisfied client with a lot of great results is what makes us proud
GT: What are your short- and long-term goals for the company?
Sanja Prvulovic: Would it be bold to say that we are going with the wind? As a small drilling company, we started with just one rig in 2017, and now, with two new deep-hole rigs arriving by the end of June, we will have a total of seven. Our initial dream was to operate two or three rigs, keeping things small and close-knit. However, demand doesn’t always align perfectly with dreams.
Beyond drilling, one of our greatest ambitions has been designing drill rigs. With the support of our friends and business partners at Gemsa General Makine in Turkiye, we successfully designed our own customized drill rig with a capacity of up to 2000 m (6562 ft) in N-size, the Gemcor RD15. Its capacity and capability exceed expectations, and since its arrival in March 2024, it has been drilling nonstop without issues. The satisfaction of having a rig that performs flawlessly, with no maintenance concerns beyond regular service, is unmatched. We have just built two more rigs, and they are on their way.
GT: Tell our international readers about the drilling landscape in Serbia. Which are the main players, and what are the big projects?
Sanja Prvulovic: Serbia may be small, but its mining and drilling sector is home to several major international players. Companies like Dundee Precious Metals, Zijin Mining, Rio Tinto, and Strickland Metals, are actively involved in exploration and drilling, contributing significantly to the industry.
One of the most important mining projects in Serbia is the Čukaru Peki copper and gold deposit, near Bor, operated by Zijin Mining. This site is considered one of the richest copper and gold deposits globally and plays a crucial role in Serbia’s mining landscape. Additionally, the Timok Magmatic Complex and Čoka Rakita Deposit are both key areas for copper-gold exploration.
Serbia has also attracted foreign investment in mining, with companies exploring resources such as lithium, boron, and metallic raw materials. The Jadar lithium-borate project, led by Rio Tinto, is particularly noteworthy, as it has the potential to become one of the largest lithium deposits in the world.
GT: What unique advantages or challenges does Serbia offer compared to other markets in the region?
Sanja Prvulovic: One of Serbia’s biggest advantages is its rich mineral potential, particularly in copper, gold, and lithium. The country’s geology has led to significant discoveries, attracting major international players eager to tap into these resources. Serbia’s strategic location in the Balkans also makes it well-positioned for investment.
GT: You mentioned the government, how supportive is it of mining and drilling?
Sanja Prvulovic: The government is very supportive. We can see this from the extensive exploration and drilling undertaken in the last 20 years, as well as the many exploration licenses that have been issued. The government’s support for the mining sector, through favorable policies, permitting processes, and infrastructure development, has encouraged both domestic and foreign companies to invest.
GT: Last year, there was a major anti-mining project in Serbia that made international news. What is the people’s attitude towards drilling in the country? Is there anything that could change it?
Sanja Prvulovic: In Serbia, there are active groups against mining and exploration, primarily due to environmental concerns. This is not unique to Serbia—it’s a global trend where communities push for stronger ecological protections. However, attitudes toward drilling vary. In regions with active or historic mining operations, communities tend to be more familiar with the industry and its benefits, leading to a more balanced perspective. Where mining is new, skepticism is stronger. Mining companies can build trust by demonstrating their commitment to environmental responsibility, investing in sustainable practices, and engaging with local communities.
GT: Is there enough collaboration between companies, universities, and the government to support the next generation of drilling professionals in Serbia?
Sanja Prvulovic: Not really, it is significantly below what is required. The industry would benefit from stronger partnerships, especially in education, training programs, and talent development.
Currently, there are limited structured initiatives to equip students with hands-on drilling experience. While some companies invest in internal training, there’s no widespread effort to encourage young professionals to pursue careers in drilling. Given the declining interest in the sector, internships and technical workshops could be a key step forward.
If approached strategically, improved collaboration could lead to a more skilled workforce. It’s something worth looking into for the future.
GT: Do you see the Serbian drilling market expanding? Why or why not?
Sanja Prvulovic: I can’t really say it, but what we see in the past few years is that many key mining companies are continually discovering new deposits.
GT: Has the entry of international drilling companies into Serbia affected the drilling business there?
Sanja Prvulovic: I wouldn’t say so, they are always a refreshing challenge. Healthy competition will only make you fight more and do better.
GT: What regulatory or logistical improvements would you like to see in Serbia to better support companies like Reflex Drilling?
Sanja Prvulovic: I would say higher availability of on-site drilling equipment in the country. Other than that, Serbia is pretty much well-positioned in Europe.
GT: Going a bit further, what would you change in the global drilling industry?
Sanja Prvulovic: Everyone is talking about digitalization, artificial intelligence, and new drilling technologies, but honestly, drilling techniques have not changed much in the last 30-40 years or maybe even more. You still need to pull rods out for a bit change. Maybe this is something I would want to see changed. A major shift could come from automation and smart drilling systems that eliminate repetitive manual tasks like rod pulling, reducing downtime and improving efficiency.
GT: Lastly, what do you do to relax? Do you have any hobbies?
Sanja Prvulovic: This is a tough one—I work a lot, so there’s not much time for hobbies. But if I had to choose, gardening would be my go-to. I love growing flowers and vegetables, and I always make time in the morning before work to tend to the garden. There’s something deeply satisfying about nurturing plants, watching them thrive, and caring for them—it’s a simple joy that brings a sense of peace before the day begins.
GT: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions! Do you have any parting words for our readers?
Sanja Prvulovic: Looking back at the companies I have worked for, I have always been left with a positive impression everywhere, and I believe that I have always taken the most positive aspects from my entire career. Everything was wonderful and good. And this is who I am today.
After so much experience and time in the sector, the moment came for me to start my own company. From here, I want to thank everyone I have worked with. It was truly great to work with each and every one of them, to learn something from every person, and I hope that others have also learned something from me.
For more information: Visit reflexdrilling.net
