The company "Bemax" has relocated its asphalt and concrete base, which has the Haj Nehaj quarry in Bar, and they were moved from the exploitation field to the concession field. This was confirmed at the end of July by the Institute for Geological Research, with a decision that these facilities are legally placed...
This follows from the response that "Bemax" submitted to "Vijesti" about the situation that arose at the beginning of last month, when the Mining Inspection determined that their bases were not mining but construction facilities, that they should not be located in the exploitation field and ordered their removal. The locals of Bar had previously complained to the inspection about the operation of these facilities...
"Bemax" told "Vijesti" that according to the inspection decision, they were obliged to remove the bases or correct the cadastral irregularity, so on July 10 they filed an appeal with the competent Ministry of Energy and Mining, claiming that the inspector's decision was illegal.
"The asphalt and concrete base are no longer located within the exploitation area, but in the concession area, which was given to us for use under the Concession Agreement. On July 31, the company received a Decision from the Geological Survey of Serbia defining that the asphalt and concrete base are not located in the exploitation area, but in the concession area, which is in accordance with the law. "Bemax" has acquired the concession right to exploit the Haj Nehaj quarry in Bar for a period of 2020 years since 30. Since then, dozens of various inspections, measurements and supervision have been carried out at the aforementioned quarry. Each, but every inspection, has concluded that "Bemax" complies with all legal regulations, rules and standards for the exploitation of the aforementioned quarry. As a curiosity, we must mention that the same inspector, in May 2025, less than two months before the aforementioned extraordinary inspection, went out for an inspection and had no objections to the temporary facilities," the company pointed out.
"Vijesti" requested confirmation of "Bemax's" allegations from the Ministry of Energy and Mining, as well as the Institute for Geological Research, but responses had not been submitted by the time this issue was published.
"Bemax" also stated that on July 9, after an extraordinary inspection, the inspector who visits all quarries in Montenegro issued a Decision that refuted all his previous decisions related to this quarry. They added that the inspector stated in the Decision that the asphalt and concrete base are located in the exploitation field within the concession field, which is contrary to previous findings, and that everything at this location was done according to the legal framework and mining standards.
They claim to be a socially responsible company that will continue to operate by the rules, that they own eight quarries, and that they are the largest concession payers in the country.
"Why did he (the inspector) change his mind after such a short period of time, you have to ask him, because we note that the asphalt and concrete base have received all the approvals and usage permits for uninterrupted operation at that location in the legal procedure for several years. We emphasize that in the event that our company makes any oversight or mistake, and you will admit that the scope of work we perform does not exclude that possibility, and even if it is not our fault, we are available to resolve them immediately," said "Bemax".
The Mining Inspection was initially submitted a report, which "Vijesti" had access to, stating that the "Bemax" company has an unauthorized asphalt and concrete base at the Haj Nehaj quarry, i.e. that the facilities are not in accordance with the Mining Law. The document, submitted by the residents of Bar who live near the quarry, claims that these bases are not mining facilities because they are not primarily used for the exploitation of construction and technical stone - and therefore should be removed immediately.
Based on this report, "Vijesti" sent questions to the Ministry of Energy and Mining, after which an initiative was formed based on these inquiries for the Mining Inspectorate to visit this quarry. The inspector then ordered the removal of these objects.
"What is indicative is that the prescribed form on which citizens' reports were made for both facilities was addressed to the Municipal Police, and according to the law, "the municipal police is not a local inspection body". Facilities for the catering and accommodation of employees and business facilities outside the exploitation field are not considered mining facilities and plants, and that concrete and asphalt bases in this specific case are not mining facilities but temporary construction facilities," the inspector's report states...
He then referred to Article 30 of the Mining Law, namely that only facilities that serve the purpose of exploitation can be built on exploitation fields and tailings dumps.
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