Tuzla Canton removes critical mineral mining sites from spatial plan

Proposed mining sites for critical mineral raw materials have been removed from the Tuzla Canton Spatial Plan for the period 2025–2045. The revised plan, prepared by the IPSA Institute, will be submitted to the Government and Assembly of Tuzla Canton for adoption.

The removal includes areas previously designated for the exploration and exploitation of lithium, boron, magnesium, copper, nickel, and cobalt. Affected municipalities and cities included Srebrenik, Čelić, Živinice, Lukavac, Banovići, and Gračanica. Activists, including the ‘Karton revolucija’ movement and the ACT Foundation, described the decision as a victory for environmental protection and public health.

Proponents of the removal argued that the mining projects threatened thousands of hectares of agricultural land and vital drinking water reservoirs. They also noted that the environmental consequences of such projects could extend beyond Bosnia and Herzegovina, potentially affecting the Bosna, Sava, and Drina river basins and populations in neighboring Serbia.