Suzana Jovanovic, a resident near an old surface mine in Bor, Serbia, has seen no improvement in her quality of life since Zijin Mining Group, a Chinese state-owned company, took over the massive copper mining and smelting complex in 2018. Despite Zijin’s pledge to invest $1.26 billion and enhance environmental measures for a 63% stake, Jovanovic reports worsening conditions.
Jovanovic, who lives in the Sever neighborhood, describes pervasive dust and noise from the mining operations, severely affecting her daily life and health. “There’s so much dust everywhere,” she says, noting the impact on her ability to open windows or go outside. Her neighbor, 86-year-old Roksanda Tasic, has had multiple surgeries and attributes her health issues to decades of pollution from the mining activities.
The situation has not improved despite Zijin’s promises. In September 2023, the company announced an additional $3.8 billion investment, but complaints persist. The company has faced multiple fines for pollution violations since taking over. In April 2021, Zijin was ordered to halt operations due to environmental non-compliance and required to build a wastewater treatment plant.
Zijin’s environmental record has drawn criticism from local residents and environmental groups, who accuse the Serbian authorities of overlooking pollution issues. Despite increased production and rapid expansion of Zijin’s operations, which benefit from rising copper prices driven by global energy transition trends, many locals feel their concerns are ignored.
Zijin’s defense and efforts
In response to concerns, Zijin claims to have made significant environmental improvements. The company points to Serbian government data showing reductions in arsenic levels in the air from 2016-17 to 2023-24. Zijin’s spokesperson attributed these improvements to recent investments in environmental technology and cleanup efforts.
The company argues that it is unrealistic to expect rapid fixes for environmental problems accumulated over more than a century. Zijin also highlights other pollution sources, such as city landfills and vehicle exhausts, as contributing to the air quality issues.
To improve its public image, Zijin has invested in local sports, cultural, and educational projects. The Serbian government has praised Zijin for its role in revitalizing the mining industry and creating jobs, and has invested over 500 million euros in air quality improvements nationwide.
Ongoing concerns and local reactions
Despite Zijin’s assertions and government data, some Bor residents remain skeptical. Toplica Marjanovic, head of the local Society of Young Researchers, continues to monitor air quality and reports increased levels of arsenic and cadmium since the new factory began operations in April 2023. He questions the accuracy of the official reports and highlights new pollutants introduced by recent changes in the mining process.
Residents and local activists continue to challenge the mining company’s practices and call for more transparency and effective measures to address ongoing environmental and health concerns.
