Zijin Mining expands Serbian operations amid protests and art colony

Chinese mining firm Zijin Mining (Zijin) acquired the state‑owned RTB Bor in 2018 for $350 million, gaining a 63 % stake and taking control of the Bor and Majdanpek copper‑gold complexes. Since then the company has opened additional sites, including the Čukaru Peki mine near Bor and a surface operation at Novo Cerovo, and is preparing a new mining‑metallurgical complex around Zaječar that covers about 126 km². Local residents have signed petitions and staged protests, alleging that Zijin frequently breaches Serbian mining regulations and harms the environment, contaminating air, water and soil.

In parallel, Zijin’s Serbian subsidiaries organised the fourth "Ziđin Art 2026" visual‑arts colony in Bor from 27‑31 July. The event, judged by a panel led by Milan Stošić, awarded Dušica Topalović (Belgrade) the first prize for her work "Mol iza hotela Jezero" and recognized several other artists. Organisers highlighted the colony’s growing reputation and the high quality of the submitted works, which were created outdoors on themes linking nature and modern mining.

The dual focus on expanding mining activities and promoting cultural initiatives underscores Zijin’s deepening presence in eastern Serbia, while ongoing community opposition raises questions about the sustainability of its operations.