Pela Global Limited (PELA) has formalised its commitment to environmental stewardship and responsible mining practices in North Macedonia by signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Research Center for Environment and Materials at the Macedonian Academy of Sciences and Arts (RCEM-MASA). This partnership aims to enhance the Krstov Dol Antimony Project as it progresses through exploration and resource validation. The MoU establishes a framework for collaboration with RCEM-MASA and an international team of researchers from North Macedonia, Europe, and Australia, focusing on environmental research, rehabilitation, and sustainable natural resource management.
The collaboration is set to position the Krstov Dol site as a significant case study in the rehabilitation of legacy mining areas, utilising modern environmental science to inform new management approaches for tailings and mine waste that meet international standards. PELA’s environmental programme is designed to provide a comprehensive understanding of the project’s conditions, including surface water, groundwater, soils, biodiversity, and historical site infrastructure.
This initiative will support responsible project design and identify opportunities for improved management and reclamation of historical tailings material, where technically and environmentally feasible. PELA’s Managing Director, Nik Jovanovski, emphasised that responsible project development starts with sound science and transparent engagement, highlighting the importance of understanding the site’s history before any construction or mining decisions are made.
The Krstov Dol site, a historical mining area, presents a unique opportunity to apply contemporary environmental, engineering, and community standards to future project designs and the management of existing site features. Jovanovski noted that partnering with RCEM-MASA and international researchers will allow PELA to contribute new scientific insights into the rehabilitation of legacy mining areas, with potential relevance for similar sites both in North Macedonia and globally.
RCEM-MASA’s Head Academician, Valentin Mirceski, echoed these sentiments, stating that North Macedonia has numerous historical mining and tailings sites that would benefit from modern environmental assessments. He expressed optimism that the findings from Krstov Dol, through rigorous environmental characterisation and monitoring, could enhance the understanding of legacy mining sites both nationally and internationally. Mirceski welcomed the cooperation based on transparency and scientific integrity, affirming the Academy’s role in providing independent scientific expertise and supporting robust research methodologies.
