New copper and gold mine, smelter outside the city and possible relocation of residents - What does the plan for the mining complex near Bor and Zajecar contain?

The Spatial Planning and Urbanism Agency of the Republic of Serbia has announced an early public review for the preparation of the Spatial Plan for the Special Purpose Area of the Cukaru Peki and Malka Golaja Mining and Metallurgical Complex, which envisages the further development of mining production in the Bor and Zajecar districts. The document, which will be available for public review until August 3, envisages the construction of a new mine, a new smelter and supporting infrastructure, as well as the establishment of zones in which residents could be relocated if expert analyses show that safe living conditions cannot be ensured.

The plan, commissioned by Serbia Zijin Copper, covers around 126 km2 in the territories of the cities of Bor and Zajecar. In the Bor area, it covers the entire cadastral municipalities of Slatina, Metovnica, Donja Bela Reka and Ostrelj, as well as parts of the cadastral municipalities of Sarbanovac and Brestovac. In the territory of Zajecar, it covers the entire cadastral municipality of Nikolicevo and part of the cadastral municipality of Zvezdan.

The plan envisages the development of three key components: the Cukaru Peki underground mine (Lower Zone), the new Malka Golaja copper and gold mine near Zajecar and a new metallurgical smelter in the Bor area, as well as infrastructure corridors connecting these facilities.

The planned development is defined through 2050, while the first phase of implementation is envisaged through 2035.

New smelter outside the urban area

One of the new developments is the planned construction of a new smelter with a capacity of up to 400,000 tonnes of anode and cathode copper per year.

The new smelter is expected to process concentrates from the Cukaru Peki mine, the future Malka Golaja mine, as well as concentrates from Serbia Zijin Copper. The complex is also planned to include sulfuric acid production facilities, gas purification systems and supporting energy and utility infrastructure.

The document states that it would be built at a new location in the territory of Bor, outside the existing urban area, creating the conditions for the gradual relocation of the existing smelting capacities from the city center.

The reasons cited include reducing the industrial burden on the urban area, improving air quality and modernizing metallurgical production. The final location will be determined through the draft spatial plan.

New Malka Golaja mine

For the first time, the plan also includes the development of the Malka Golaja mine, administratively located in the territory of the city of Zajecar. According to the documentation, the deposit has significant copper and gold potential and will be functionally connected to the Bor mining system and the future smelter. The construction of mining facilities, disposal sites, infrastructure corridors and supporting facilities is envisaged.

Zones of possible relocation envisaged

Part of the document concerns zones directly and indirectly affected by mining activities. According to the document, a special monitoring regime will be established in these areas due to possible land subsidence, impacts on groundwater, air and soil, as well as noise and dust. Planning solutions for this zone may provide a basis for determining the public interest and resolving property and legal issues, including the relocation of residents, but, as stated, only in cases where expert analyses and legally prescribed procedures confirm that acceptable living or safety conditions cannot be ensured.

The document envisages that in areas designated as zones of "predominantly mining use", the construction of new facilities will not be permitted, with only the maintenance of existing facilities allowed until possible relocation. In zones designated for "potential use", there will be no construction restrictions for the time being, while any changes to the land use regime will depend on the results of monitoring during mining operations.

Continuous geotechnical monitoring is envisaged for the Lower Zone of the Cukaru Peki mine due to possible land subsidence. If analyses show that mining operations could endanger part of the Bor-Zajecar state road, the plan envisages its preventive relocation, along with the establishment of protection zones, signage and a continuous monitoring system.

The plan is being prepared under the authority of the Spatial Planning and Urbanism Agency of the Republic of Serbia, while the planning document is being developed by the Institute of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia.

Citizens, businesses and other interested parties may submit comments and suggestions on the plan to the Spatial Planning and Urbanism Agency of the Republic of Serbia until August 3, and these, according to the documentation, may influence the final planning solutions.

I. Z.

Agencija za prostorno planiranje i urbanizam Republike Srbije

Serbia Zijin Copper doo Bor

Institut za arhitekturu i urbanizam Srbije Beograd

Spatial Planning and Urbanism Agency of the Republic of Serbia

Serbia Zijin Copper

Institute of Architecture and Urban & Spatial Planning of Serbia

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

Slatina Bor

Metovnica Bor

Donja Bela Reka Bor

Ostrelj Bor

Sarbanovac Bor

Brestovac Bor

Nikolicevo Zajecar

Zvezdan Zajecar

Malka Golaja mine

Malka Golaja

Cukaru Peki