Serbia halts Chinese copper mine on environmental grounds

China's Zijin Mining Group has been asked by the government of Serbia to cease all work at the RTB Bor copper mine because of non-compliance with environmental standards and regulations, and also to complete the construction of a wastewater treatment plant, according to reports in local media.

Serbian Minister of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure Zorana Mihajlović said that the order to halt work on the Jama copper mining shaft had been made in late March. 

"The state has ... responded to the complaints of citizens living in the vicinity of the Jama mine," she said in a statement.

Also read: MEPs warn of environmental impact of Chinese industry in Serbia

In a statement, Zijin Serbia said it had halted construction of ventilation shafts for the Jama mine located in the town of Bor, on the authorities' orders, following complaints by residents about noise levels.

Mihajlović added that the company was also ordered to complete a wastewater treatment plant on priority at the mine to avoid polluting the River Pek, a tributary of the Danube.

"They have until April 30 to eliminate all irregularities," she said.

RTB Bor, as it was formerly known, is the country's only copper mining and smelting complex. It was one of the most unprofitable companies in Serbia for nearly two decades. In December 2018, the complex was acquired by the Zijin Mining Group, which had already acquired a 63% stake in August of the same year, and was renamed Serbia Zijin Bor Copper. 

The Bor complex has multiple mining and processing sites, which include Veliki Krivelj, Cerovo Mine, the underground mine Jama, and the smelter and copper slag processing plant. Last week, Zijin announced that it was to invest $408 million this year to overhaul, expand and improve environmental standards at the Bor complex.

Also read: China's Zijin To Invest Over €730m In Serbia

In its 2019 report, the Global Alliance on Health and Pollution watchdog said Serbia was the most polluted country in Europe.

Over the weekend, thousands took to the streets of Belgrade in protest against government inaction in preventing pollution from mining and heavy industry.

China has invested billions of euros in Serbia over the past few years, mostly in soft loans to finance highway and energy projects. While Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has hailed the investments, even referring to his country as being China's best friend in Europe, critics say that many of the projects involving Chinese money are part of Beijing's wider plan to push its Belt and Road Initiative further into Europe, as well as gaining influence in the EU's backyard.

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