Prijedor residents protest Bukova Kosa mine pollution

Residents of Prijedor held protests at the City Square to demand the closure of the Bukova Kosa coal mine. Protesters claim the mining operations have destroyed private property, water sources, and air quality over the last three years. Local residents reported being “choked in burning sulfur” due to coal deposits that frequently ignite.

The protests follow the decision by the Ministry of Spatial Planning, Construction, and Ecology of Republika Srpska to issue a new ecological permit to the company Drvo-Export. Residents and activists have questioned the scope of this permit, noting it covers only 9.15 hectares while operations appear to span over 30 hectares. The issuance of this permit comes despite previous court rulings that had annulled related concessions and permits.

In Croatia, the Mayor of Raša has called for greater transparency regarding the cement plant Koromačnu, following reports of significant emissions exceeding legal limits. This follows government decisions regarding the disposal of waste from Gospić to domestic cement plants, which has sparked local petitions and planned protests in Našice and Istria.

In Romania, a record-breaking event took place in Bucharest, where tens of thousands of people gathered to form a 5,055-meter-long table made of recycled materials. The event aimed to raise funds for the construction of the country’s first pediatric psychiatric hospital.