Bor Serbia Copper Mine Pollution: Health Risks and Protest

Bor, a town in Eastern Serbia, is home to one of Europe's largest copper mining regions. However, this economic engine has become a source of severe environmental pollution and a flashpoint for political dissent, particularly since a Chinese company took over the mine in 2018.

The Environmental Crisis in Bor

The copper mine in Bor releases dust particles containing carcinogenic substances like lead, arsenic, and cadmium directly into the air. Residents who have undergone private testing report levels of these toxins "well over the limits." While the Chinese mining company, Zijin Mining, claims economic benefits and reduced sulfur dioxide emissions, other environmental problems have worsened.

One striking example is the settling basins, which store fine-grained tailings and chemically contaminated wastewater from ore processing. Wind carries large amounts of heavy metal dust from these basins into the surrounding areas. Despite official electronic display boards showing emission values, local activists like Lazar Milutinović and Marko Andrejević, part of the Serbian student movement, distrust these figures. They advocate for independent monitoring of pollutant emissions, noting that even official data often shows arsenic and cadmium in the "red zone."

Environmental engineer Snežana Šerbula, with over 40 years of experience at the University of Belgrade's technical faculty in Bor, highlights the severity of the issue. Along with Toplica Maranović, the mine's former environmental officer, and a miner named Branko, she expresses concern over intensified health hazards. They found airborne particles smaller than 74 micrometers, which the WHO classifies as highly hazardous because no existing technology can effectively filter them from the air. These particles, containing Group 1 carcinogens like lead, arsenic, and cadmium, go straight into the lungs.

While Zijin Mining has reduced sulfur dioxide gases with new filtering systems, heavy metal emissions remain a critical problem. Branko, who worked at the smelter, describes chronic fatigue, poor sleep, and nosebleeds among workers. He notes that there has never been a comprehensive study on cancer rates among smelter workers, but anecdotally, "every second or third colleague gets cancer," making it the leading cause of death in that group.

The state health institute Batut confirms a significantly higher risk for Bor locals of developing or dying from cancer due to the heavy metal burden. Roma families, living next to the waste dump in an old mining settlement, are particularly affected. Safet and his wife Koka, whose first wife died of lung cancer, describe living in constant dust, noise, and dirt. Many suffer from diabetes, heart problems, high blood pressure, asthma, and bronchitis.

Zijin Mining attributes high heavy metal emissions primarily to "legacy waste." However, Šerbula points out that when the Chinese company took over, they began exploiting ore with high copper, gold, and arsenic content, unlike previous operations that carefully selected low-arsenic ore. Furthermore, the mine now processes imported ores, but no information is published regarding their quantity, copper content, or heavy metal and arsenic levels. Environmental organizations have measured arsenic levels in Bor 90 to 95 times higher than the legal daily limit.

Ivan Sokačanin and Slajan Ilić, who have worked in the copper smelter for over 30 years, were never adequately informed about the health hazards. Their self-funded tests revealed lead levels three to three and a half times the legal limit, leading to chronic fatigue and joint pain. They believe the state and the system are ultimately responsible for allowing the Chinese company to operate as it does. Zijin Mining states that targeted medical examinations for heavy metals have been introduced for employees.

Expansion and Community Displacement

Zijin Mining's expansion continues, with a new underground mine, rich in copper and gold, opened in 2023, reaching 800 meters deep with plans for further excavation. The company has also built a new settlement for Chinese mine workers near Bor, a "completely new town" behind high fences with its own sports and leisure facilities. Locals like Lazar and Marko know little about this settlement or the number of people living there, estimated to be several thousand Chinese workers. Attempts to film near the extraction towers have led to confrontations with private security, who photograph vehicles and demand IDs, often escalating into calls to the police.

The village of Krivel, a centuries-old settlement of the Vlach minority, is slated for clearance due to the encroaching mine. Residents were promised resettlement to preserve their community and culture, but this has not materialized. The mine is now dangerously close, and dust pollution is severe. Around half of the 1,300 villagers have sold their houses to Zijin Mining, and Krivel is "slowly dying." Milan, whose great-grandfather's house was damaged by mine blasts in 2013, recounts receiving only €100 for renovations. He notes a high incidence of cancer and heart attacks in the village.

Beyond emissions and tremors, Krivel faces risks from flooding. In 2023, floodwaters washed through the Čerov mine, flushing toxins into the surroundings and rendering the river unusable for irrigation or human use.

Student Activism and Political Repression

Lazar and Marko are part of the Serbian student movement, founded in 2024, and are politically active in Bor. They frequently face hostility from government supporters. Their banner, "Students Win," reflects their commitment to fighting pollution and corruption.

The student movement gained national prominence after a train station roof collapse in 2024, which killed 16 people and was attributed to nepotism, corruption, and shoddy construction. This disaster sparked widespread protests, with students and a large part of the population demanding accountability. The state responded with violence, but the movement has effectively mobilized tens of thousands.

Marco, a history student, faces significant online abuse, including homophobic AI-generated fake videos designed to defame him. His professor, Radina Vučić, expresses alarm at the threats, surveillance, arrests, and beatings students endure, calling them "heroes" for their stoicism in the face of a "regime riddled with corruption and the mafia."

In Bor, the center-right populist party of Aleksandar Vučić, Serbia's president until late September 2026, governs. Local elections in spring saw brutal attacks on journalists and demonstrators. Lazar recounts an incident in the village of Čarbanovac where four journalists, including a friend, were seriously injured by thugs wielding fists, clubs, and even axes. Despite fears for their safety, Lazar notes, "somehow this has become everyday life for us."

A Glimmer of Hope

Despite the challenges, there is growing unrest in Bor due to environmental pollution and corruption. The opposition alliance founded by Lazar and Marco was elected to the city council with 40% of the vote. On the eve of their first council meeting, with five ruling party MPs under investigation for corruption, the opposition aimed to force new elections by boycotting the session. They walked out, but the governing faction continued the meeting without a quorum, a move Lazar documented for social media, anticipating a court challenge.

At the Krivel cemetery, next to the mine, many graves have been damaged by blasts. Yasna Tomić and Milan visit their relatives' graves, lamenting that the promised organized relocation of both the living and the dead from Krivel has not occurred.

Lazar and his fellow campaigners continue to actively campaign in Bor, even in the face of smear posters and hostility. They report a growing sense of open and loud support from the public, indicating that fear is diminishing. They are optimistic about winning future parliamentary elections, believing that change is afoot in Bor, with many people no longer willing to accept environmental pollution, corruption, and lawlessness.