MINEX Forum

Tag: Serbia Zijin Copper

  • US Customs Detains Serbia Zijin Copper Shipments Over Forced Labour Allegations Covering Six ILO Indicators

    US Customs Detains Serbia Zijin Copper Shipments Over Forced Labour Allegations Covering Six ILO Indicators

    US Customs and Border Protection has issued a Withhold Release Order against copper and copper products manufactured by Serbia Zijin Copper, directing all US ports of entry to detain shipments from the Chinese-controlled Serbian copper producer following an investigation that found evidence of six International Labour Organization indicators of forced labour.

    CBP said its investigation drew on worker statements, photographs, focus group field notes, text message screenshots, NGO reports, news media and academic research. The evidence collectively demonstrated that workers at Serbia Zijin Copper are subject to abuse of vulnerability, withholding of wages, intimidation and threats, restriction of movement, retention of identity documents and excessive overtime.

    Importers of detained shipments may either destroy or export their goods, or seek to demonstrate to CBP that the merchandise was not produced using forced labour. Serbia Zijin Copper had not responded to a request for comment at time of publication.

    “US manufacturers face unfair competition when foreign companies cut costs by using forced labour. By enforcing our laws against forced labour, CBP safeguards human rights as well as our nation’s economic security,” said Susan S. Thomas, CBP Office of Trade executive assistant commissioner.

    Serbia Zijin Copper was created in 2018 when China’s Zijin Mining injected $350 million into Serbian copper mining and smelting company RTB Bor, acquiring a 63% stake. In 2025, the company produced 123,286 tonnes of mine copper and 43,852 tonnes of refined copper. Zijin is also present in Serbia through wholly-owned Serbia Zijin Mining, which operates the Čukaru Peki copper-gold mine. Combined, the two Zijin operations in Serbia produced 296,000 tonnes of mine copper in 2025, making them Europe’s second-largest mined copper producer. A 2025 UN Special Rapporteur report noted that most of this copper is exported to China.

    Tuesday’s order is the fourth forced labour Withhold Release Order issued by CBP in fiscal year 2026, following a December 2025 order against tyres produced by Chinese company Linglong’s Serbian factory on the same grounds.

  • Serbia Zijin Copper Files for Environmental Review of New Kraku Bugaresku–Cerovo Expansion

    Serbia Zijin Copper Files for Environmental Review of New Kraku Bugaresku–Cerovo Expansion

    Serbia Zijin Copper LLC Bor, a subsidiary of Zijin Mining Group, has filed a formal request with Serbia’s Ministry of Environmental Protection to prepare an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the planned exploitation of the Cementation 2 and Cementation 3 ore bodies at the Kraku Bugaresku–Cerovo Cementation deposit, near Bor.

    The new project marks a continuation of decades-long mining activity in the region, following previous open-pit operations at Cementation 1, according to eKapija. The deposit lies about 13 kilometers from Bor and 2 kilometers from Mali Krivelj, on the ridge of the Kraku Bugaresku hill.

    Project Scope and Development Phases

    The EIA request, prepared by the Faculty of Mining and Geology at the University of Belgrade, builds on earlier approvals from the Ministry of Mining and Energy dating back to 1991 and 2018.

    Mining at Cementation 2 and 3 will proceed in five phases:

    1. Initial extraction in the northern section of Cementation 2.

    2. Expansion southwest.

    3. Opening of the Cementation 3 pit.

    4. Southward expansion of both pits.

    5. Subsequent exploitation of Cementation 4 reserves in the southeast.

    The open-pit Cementation 2 is designed to produce 3.5 million tonnes of ore annually over a seven-year mine life. The project’s estimated net present value (NPV) stands at $117 million in the best-case scenario, positioning it among Serbia’s most significant mining investments in recent years.

    Waste Management and Environmental Measures

    Ore extraction will follow discontinuous mining technology, involving drilling, blasting, loading, and transport to the primary crusher, alongside drainage and auxiliary works.

    A total of 61.1 million tonnes of waste rock is expected to be generated. The existing waste rock dumps from Cementation 1 will be expanded to accommodate material from Cementation 2 and 3, increasing total dump capacity to 61.9 million tonnes.

    The project also requires hydrological modification: the Cerova River, which flows between the open pit and access roads, will be diverted and piped, with a reinforced embankment wall constructed downstream to protect infrastructure.

    Context and Outlook

    The Kraku Bugaresku–Cerovo expansion reinforces Zijin’s long-term presence in Serbia, where the company operates major copper and gold projects. It also reflects the continued development of Serbia’s Bor mining basin into a regional hub for base metals production.

    The forthcoming Environmental Impact Assessment will evaluate the project’s potential effects on water resources, biodiversity, waste management, and local communities, determining the conditions under which exploitation may proceed.

  • Serbia signs €2bn renewable energy deal with Chinese companies

    Serbia signs €2bn renewable energy deal with Chinese companies

    By bne IntelliNews January 27, 2024

    Serbian Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with two Chinese companies regarding investments in renewable energy sources on January 26. The investment amounts to approximately €2bn, with Shanghai Fengling Renewables being the principal investor.

    The agreement signed with Shanghai Fengling Renewables and Serbia Zijin Copper, in which Serbia holds a co-ownership stake, is the start of Serbia’s largest-ever project in the realm of renewable energy.

    The ambitious project envisions the establishment of a plant near Bor, with total capacity of 2GW.

    It includes the construction of a wind power plant generating 1,500 MW, a solar power plant with a capacity of 500 MW and the creation of a factory for green hydrogen production capable of producing around 30,000 tonnes annually.

    Djedovic Handanovic highlighted that the generated energy will primarily cater to the production needs of Zijin, a major Serbian exporter that has significantly expanded its operations, particularly following the completion of the Bor smelter reconstruction.

    Djedovic Handanovic announced that the construction of the plant is scheduled to start in the first quarter of next year, with the first phase targeting 700 MW set to be completed by mid-2026.

    The goal is to finalise the entire project, achieving the full 2,000 MW and the green hydrogen production capacity of 30,000 tonnes per year, by the end of 2028.

    This initiative is poised to generate between 300 to 500 new jobs, predominantly in the renewable energy sector.

    With this strategic partnership, Serbia is set to emerge as a major hub for the production and equipment of renewable energy projects, including green hydrogen. The project is also expected to play a crucial role in advancing Serbia’s energy security and independence goals, aligning with the country’s ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050.