During the development of Serbia’s new Mineral and Geological Resources Management Strategy for 2025–2040, the Ministry of Mining consulted with major foreign companies, including the majority Russian-owned NIS and Chinese Zijin, but did not engage local experts such as the Faculty of Mining and Geology. Critics say this raises concerns about transparency and prioritization of corporate over public interests.
Public consultations were tightly controlled, with some invited environmental academics and opposition figures denied entry to the presentation, while private security and police ensured access was limited. The Ministry claims the process was open, but records show that 19 submitted comments from the Academic Board for Environmental Protection were not reflected in official reports.
The Strategy promises simplified procedures for companies, faster permit issuance, and even allows for expropriation of land for commercial interests. Critics argue it misses the opportunity to strengthen state control over mineral resources, increase extraction fees, or limit automatic granting of mining rights to companies conducting exploration.
Environmental safeguards appear weak: the Strategy allows unrestricted mining in areas of high natural value, including national parks and regional water sources. Rather than promoting sustainable resource management for future generations, it emphasizes accelerated exploitation of mineral wealth.
The Ministry maintains that the Strategy serves state interests, but reliance on corporate-provided data, such as for the Rio Tinto project, has fueled skepticism about whose priorities are truly being served.
