The Serbian copper mining city of Bor has become a focal point of controversy, community protest and environmental concern as Chinese-owned mining giant Zijin Mining Group runs some of Europe’s largest copper operations there. Critics and residents say the mine’s pollution has damaged air, water and land — triggering protests and ongoing debates over human health, economic development and the future of mining in the Balkans.
From Strategic Asset to Environmental Flashpoint
The copper complex in Bor, now known as Serbia Zijin Bor Copper, was acquired in 2018 when Zijin Mining Group took a controlling 63 per cent stake in the historic RTB Bor operation as part of a €1.07 billion deal. The company turned the site into a major exporter and economic pillar in eastern Serbia.
But what many locals hoped would be investment and renewal has also led to growing unease. For years, residents and environmental groups have warned about sulphur dioxide (SO₂), heavy metal contaminants and dust from smelting and mining emissions — levels that critics say can harm lungs, crops and water systems.
“People here struggle with polluted air and soil,” one farmer living near Bor told human rights researchers. “With this dust, it’s impossible to grow anything healthy.”
Voices From the Ground — Protests and Daily Reality
In the nearby village of Krivelj, pollution concerns have sparked ongoing community resistance. In 2024, a group of women — including teachers, nurses and housewives — took turns standing guard at a barricade blocking mine trucks, saying pollution had made air and soil unsafe and that public health was at risk.
“We are forced to block the road, because we are poisoned, everything is polluted, we can’t grow vegetables anymore,” said 78-year-old Vukosava Radivojevic, one of the protestors.
While Zijin’s local subsidiary says it has invested over $100 million in environmental improvements and has agreed to begin relocation talks with affected communities, many residents remain sceptical and demand more comprehensive protections.
Health, Dust and Daily Life Under Scrutiny
Environmental concerns around Bor aren’t new — reports stretching back years show repeated exceedances of pollution standards, with sulphur dioxide sometimes spiking far above legal limits and violating air quality norms meant to protect health. Critics argue that even when dust suppression equipment was ordered to be installed, data later showed emissions remained problematic.
These pollutants aren’t just invisible dangers: heavy metals like lead, arsenic and cadmium have been identified in soil and waterways near the mines, adding to fears about long-term exposure.
Government, Investment and Wider Debate
The Bor case sits within a larger regional conversation about foreign investment, economic development and environmental regulation in Serbia. While leaders in Belgrade have praised Chinese investment as critical for jobs and economic growth, critics argue that environmental and health protections have lagged, with regulatory enforcement sometimes weakened in the face of big projects.
The tension here reflects a broader dilemma facing many countries: balancing economic opportunity with environmental stewardship and community well-being.
Editorial Perspective — A Community at a Crossroads
Bor’s transformation from a historic mining town to a contested industrial hub underscores what happens when large-scale resource extraction collides with local livelihoods and environmental risk. Despite promises of modernization and investment, many locals feel their health and homes have become secondary in the pursuit of profit.
As Serbia continues to navigate its economic partnerships and environmental policies, the voices from villages like Krivelj offer a stark reminder: economic development cannot be achieved without safeguarding public health and environmental sustainability.