Mining mega-complex emerging in eastern Serbia – State initiating development of joint spatial plan for expansion of Cukaru Peki mine and new Malka Golaja gold deposit

The Agency for Spatial and Urban Planning of the Republic of Serbia has decided to develop a strategic environmental impact assessment for the Spatial Plan for the Special Purpose Area of the Cukaru Peki and Malka Golaja Mining and Metallurgical Complex, thus starting a new phase of planning for the development of this mining area in eastern Serbia.

As stated in the decision published in the Official Gazette, the goal is to ensure conditions for sustainable spatial development, rational exploitation of mineral resources and mitigation of negative environmental and socio-economic consequences of mining.

The plan covers parts of the territories of the cities of Bor and Zajecar, where the Cukaru Peki mine is already active, while the Malka Golaja deposit is in the planning phase and is not yet open for exploitation. The document refers to the cadastral municipalities of Slatina, Metovnica, Donja Bela Reka, Ostrelj, Brestovac and Sarbanovac in Bor, as well as Nikolicevo and part of Zvezdane in Zajecar.

The reasons for the development of the Spatial Plan, as stated, are primarily the expansion of the exploitation of existing deposits, but also the need to regulate the future development of the mining and metallurgical system in an integral and sustainable manner, with a clear definition of the conditions for its implementation.

The strategic assessment will include an analysis of the impact on the quality of air, water, soil, wildlife and the health of the population, while considering different development scenarios, including a variant without further expansion. Measures to reduce negative impacts and enhance the positive effects of the project will also be proposed.

The development of the assessment is led by the competent agency, with the engagement of experts of various profiles, and the deadline for completion is 18 months. The competent authorities will be involved in the procedure, while the public will have the opportunity to make comments during the public review.

The funds for the development of the strategic assessment are provided by the company Serbia Zijin Mining.

This decision supersedes the previous decision that applied only to the lower Cukaru Peki deposit, thus expanding the planning to the entire complex, including future projects such as Malka Golaja.

As a reminder, a year ago, Zijin discovered a new significant copper and gold deposit, Malka Golaja, 7 km southeast of the Cukaru Peki mine. The deposit contains approximately 2.81 million tons of copper with an average grade of 1.87% and 92 tons of gold with an average grade of 0.61 g/t.

Previously, at the end of 2023, the company submitted a request to the relevant ministry for a green permit for a project to exploit copper and gold minerals from the lower zone of the Cukaru Peki mine, the value of which is estimated at USD 3.8 billion. According to the results of the research, 16 million tons of copper and 333 tons of gold lie in this zone.

B. P.

Agencija za prostorno planiranje i urbanizam Republike Srbije

Serbia Zijin Mining d.o.o. Bor

Čukaru Peki

Malka Golaja

decision on preparation of strategic environmental impact assessment

Spatial Plan for the Special Purpose Area of the Čukaru Peki and Malka Golaja Mining and Metallurgical Complex

expansion of Čukaru Peki mine

Čukaru Peki and Malka Golaja spatial plan