Environment Energy Mining Watch SEE|News|The whole village in Serbia is being relocated because of the Chinese mine

The whole village in Serbia is being relocated because of the Chinese mine

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All residents of Krivelj will be relocated and the Government will form a working group that will deal with their problem, said the Minister of Mining and Energy Zorana Mihajlović in Zaječar, in the east of Serbia, where a reception of citizens was organized.

At the end of 2018, the Chinese company “Zijin Mining” took over the Mining and Smelting Basin (RTB) in Bor. The Serbian government has signed a strategic partnership agreement with the company.

Residents of Krivelja recently protested, demanding that everyone move out because their life with RTB Bor has become unbearable.

“Next week, a working group will be formed consisting of representatives of the Ministry of Mining and Energy, the Ministry of Finance, the Tax Administration, as well as our strategic partners ‘Zidjin’ and, of course, the locals. Let’s make a plan, see how much money will be needed for the relocation process. all the locals, because we can’t let people live like that “, said Mihajlović, adding that they encountered the problems of the locals of Krivelj after the formation of the Government in October last year.

As she stated, the working group should make a plan in the next month and start with that process in the fall.

The fact is, she pointed out, that RTB Bor is developing, that we will soon get the first green mine in Serbia – Čukar Peka, but also that all the people who live there must have decent living conditions.

“In cooperation with strategic partners and having in mind all the information, the only solution is to relocate the entire village. It is not only the support of the Ministry to the locals, it is our task. It is OK for the mines to expand, all the people who live there”, said Mihajlović, according to a statement from the Ministry.

‘Green agenda does not mean closing existing capacities’

Mihajlović also said that the essence of the green agenda is economic growth and new jobs.

“The green agenda does not mean the closure of existing capacities, nor that anyone will lose their jobs, but the opposite. It means additional development, energy stability, new capacities and more jobs. Serbia never, but never, has to be an importer of electricity. “We have enough potential to be energy independent and secure. The new investment cycle is worth 17 billion euros”, she said.

She pointed out that eastern Serbia has the potential to build solar power plants, given the large number of sunny days during the year.

“We no longer have the right to say that we are not interested in the environment. It is a generational issue and our obligation to make the environment as healthy as possible”, said Mihajlović.

She stated that the goal is for Serbia to receive at least 30 percent of energy from renewable sources by 2030, and at least 50 percent by 2050.

“That is why we will continue to subsidize the replacement of carpentry and the installation of solar panels, and these projects will last as long as the citizens are interested”.

Mihajlović stated that she would continue with direct conversations with people, because this practice showed that citizens come to a solution to the problems they have been facing for years.

“Zaječar is the third city, after Vranje and Užice, in which we try to help solve their problems in direct conversation with citizens. The reception of citizens is important because there are problems that people cannot or do not know how to solve through institutions,” she said. is Mihajlović.

She said that the task is to find solutions through the institutions of the system, in cooperation with other ministries and the city, and that all people will certainly get an answer.

“Most of the problems are related to electricity supply in certain parts of the city and villages. Today we agreed to get accurate data from the city about which parts are in question, so that we can determine priorities with” Elektrodistribucija Srbije “and start solving, and we will determine and the deadline by which this problem should be solved, so that people would not be left without electricity “, said Mihajlović.

She also mentioned the remarks that the works on the reconstruction of the Niš-Zaječar railway have been slowed down.

“The information we received from the relevant ministry and “Railways” is that the railway must be finished in September, and we will certainly talk to enable it to be put into operation as soon as possible. We also talked about Resavica, the Vrška Čuka mine. The task of the state is for people to work, to see which mines have and how much mineral wealth, and for those who have enough to continue working”, said Mihajlović.

Mihajlović pointed out that the agreement signed with the American company “UGT rinjuables” (renewables) on further development of solar power plants is in no way binding for Serbia, and that those who talk about the harmfulness of that agreement want to stop development at any cost.

“It is an agreement that will enable further cooperation in the field of solar power plants. The locations have not been determined yet, because we do not know where potential power plants would be built”, she said.

Mihajlović stated that Serbia cooperates with the United States, Russia, China and EU countries.

“If someone is bothered by American investments, then everything bothers them. It is our job to make the conditions for everyone equal, to have the best companies and to ensure energy stability,” she concluded.

She assessed that the agreement is good and that it is good that world companies are interested in investing in the energy sector and that Serbia thus begins the energy transition.

“Auctions, public-private partnerships and tenders are planned for everyone who wants to invest in solar power plants, wind power plants, biogas power plants and to change the structure in the energy mix”, said Mihajlović, adding that there is interest. framework, that is, it depends on public calls and tenders whether the project will be implemented.

Source: Slobodna Evropa

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