Residents of Krivelj, a village near Bor, have waited nearly a decade for a spatial plan of special purpose and collective relocation. Meanwhile, Zijin Copper continues unlawful activities – this time starting exploitation near their homes without permits. Together with the residents, we filed a report for commercial offence and requested the Ministry of Mining and Energy to revoke Zijin’s exploitation permit in Veliki Krivelj.
For years, the Bor region has exemplified what United Nations special rapporteurs describe as a “sacrifice zone”, an area severely contaminated where marginalized communities bear a disproportionately heavy burden and where fundamental human rights are routinely violated.
Due to the intensification of mining activities by Zijin Copper, frequently conducted without proper planning or the necessary permits, mass relocations of the local population are anticipated. According to the draft Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia for 2021–2035, the Ministry of Construction, Transport and Infrastructure projects that the population of the Bor region will be reduced by half by 2035. The village of Krivelj, home to approximately 400 households, must be relocated. However, the adoption of a Special-purpose Spatial Plan for the Bor-Majdanpek mining basin, which would establish mechanisms for collective relocation and address the impacts of future mining, has been pending since 2015.
“While we wait for relocation, Zijin is illegally expanding the mine right next to our homes,” says Jasna Tomić, a resident living near the Veliki Krivelj mine. She explains that the company is pursuing individual buyouts and exerting pressure on the community. “If our community is not relocated together, we risk losing our traditions, culture, and centuries-old heritage, in essence, we will lose our very identity,” Jasna emphasizes.
That is a reason why, together with the residents of the village of Krivelj, we filed a report for a commercial offense, based on which the Basic Public Prosecutor’s Office in Zaječar submitted an indictment six days ago.
“I wish I could say we are satisfied with the prosecution’s decision, but our experience shows that court rulings consistently impose fines lower than those mandated by law,” said Ljubica Vukčević, RERI’s attorney. She added that since 2021, the company has been convicted five times for conducting mining activities without a permit, specifically at the Veliki Krivelj exploitation site, yet it continues to illegally extract resources and cause environmental harm through its operations. “This is why we believe the only effective measure to prevent further damage is the cancellation of the exploitation site, a request we have formally submitted to the Ministry of Mining and Energy with the residents of Krivelj village,” Vukčević stated.
In the meantime, life in the village has become unbearable. Milan Ćosić describes daily life in Krivelj: “We constantly feel the ground trembling due to blasting and the passage of heavy vehicles and machinery through the village, which leads to severe dust and noise pollution,” and adds that he fears his house might collapse any day.
The residents of Krivelj have been abandoned by their own government, left at the mercy of a foreign multinational company. All activities related to the illegal exploitation in Veliki Krivelj must be halted immediately. State authorities must be urgently reminded that their primary duty is to protect the rights of their citizens and to take all necessary measures to ensure the collective relocation of the villagers, guaranteeing fair compensation and dignified living conditions.
