Zijin Mining Group took over a copper mining and smelting complex in Bor, Serbia in 2018, and local resident Suzana Jovanovic says conditions have not improved since the change in ownership. Jovanovic lives near an old surface mine and reports worsening quality of life. She says the company pledged to invest $1.26 billion and improve environmental measures for a 63% stake.
In the Sever neighborhood, Jovanovic describes dust and noise linked to mining operations that affect daily routines and health. She says she struggles to open windows or go outside because of dust. Her neighbor, Roksanda Tasic, is 86 and has undergone multiple surgeries, which she attributes to decades of pollution from mining activities.
Investment pledges and reported pollution enforcement
Zijin’s commitments have continued alongside further announcements about spending. In September 2023, the company said it would add $3.8 billion in investment, while residents’ complaints remain. The company has also faced multiple fines for pollution violations since taking over the complex.
In April 2021, Zijin was ordered to halt operations due to environmental non-compliance. The order required construction of a wastewater treatment plant. Residents say these steps have not translated into improvements they can observe.
Company claims of environmental improvements
Zijin says it has made significant environmental improvements in response to concerns raised by residents and environmental groups. The company points to Serbian government data indicating reductions in air arsenic levels from 2016-17 to 2023-24. A company spokesperson said the changes reflect investments in environmental technology and cleanup efforts.
Zijin also argues that problems accumulated over more than a century cannot be resolved quickly. The company cites other sources of pollution, including city landfills and vehicle exhausts, as factors affecting air quality. To support its public image, Zijin has invested in local sports, cultural, and educational projects.
The Serbian government has praised Zijin for revitalizing the mining industry and creating jobs. It has also invested more than 500 million euros in air quality improvements nationwide. Residents’ views on whether these measures address local impacts remain mixed.
Local monitoring reports arsenic and cadmium increases
Some Bor residents continue to question official reporting despite Zijin’s references to government data. Toplica Marjanovic, head of the local Society of Young Researchers, says he monitors air quality and reports increased levels of arsenic and cadmium. He links the increases to operations at a new factory that began in April 2023.
Marjanovic questions the accuracy of official reports and says recent changes in the mining process have introduced new pollutants. Local activists and residents continue challenging the company’s practices while calling for more transparency and effective measures addressing ongoing environmental and health concerns.