The reopening of the lead and zinc mine in Brskov near Mojkovac after more than three decades will have catastrophic consequences for the environment and people in this municipality.
This was pointed out by the majority of citizens who attended the public debate on the Draft Detailed Spatial Plan for the concession area for the exploitation of mineral raw materials in Brskovo and the Draft Report on the Strategic Environmental Impact Assessment of this area.
Gordana Đukanović, a resident of the village of Bjelojevići, employed at the Environmental Protection Agency, strongly criticized the project, stressing that she expresses her opinion as a citizen.
"Not a single word in the document, I consider it perfidious, that the chemicals that will be used there are not mentioned, cyanide, concentrated acids are not mentioned, they are referred to as regulators. There are also extremely heavy carcinogenic elements, the citizens of Mojkovac already have that experience, I had in my family. In addition, it is a permanent and reservable destruction of the environment in that area, and everything that is described and written does not follow the conclusions. The influence of mercury was ignored, mercury was not mentioned," said Đukanović.
The Ministry of Ecology, Spatial Planning and Urbanism says that they see the solution in the sewage and wastewater treatment system. They emphasize that the concession area also includes part of the Tara catchment area, which is under UNESCO protection, as well as the area of the Biogradska gora National Park, where endemic flora and fauna are present.
Despite this, the relevant ministry is of the opinion that the development of mining activities is possible, while meeting high standards of environmental protection. The locals do not believe in this.
Biljana Radović-Fuštić from Mojkovac said that "the tailings area is currently being rehabilitated with a size of 17 hectares, and what is planned is 70 to 80 hectares, which are being built in a cascade, whereby the lowest floor will be at 890 meters above sea level, 40 meters above city level, and the largest tailings dump should be at 1100 above the city level, so that when the winds start blowing dangerous particles, further washing by underground water, all this can reach Tara".
Her fellow citizen Ljiljana Jokić said that "the citizens of Mojkovac are sending her a clear message that in the 21st century they will not be an ecological black spot".
Đukanović emphasized that "the poll they conducted and based on which they convinced the decision-makers that the citizens of Mojkovac are in favor of the opening of the mine, and based on the citizens present here today who are against the opening of the mine, that poll methodologically fails".
The Ministry states that the recultivation will be carried out in phases during and after the exploitation defined by the plan and the concession contract, which would guarantee a minimal impact on the environment. Representatives of the local self-government point out that they understand the citizens' objections, but also that it is an economic opportunity.
The president of the municipality of Mojkovac, Vesko Delić, pointed out that "in the economic sense, a project like this can be very significant when it comes to the growth of the entire economy and development and economy in the area of the municipality of Mojkovac".
The Brskovo Mine company, which plans to open the mine, points out that all aspects of the project are designed in accordance with European Union standards.
"The project will generate about 100 million euros in annual export value, will become one of the largest taxpayers in Montenegro and will pay an annual concession fee of about 4,5 million euros, of which 70 percent or more than three million will be allocated to the municipality of Mojkovac". it is stated in the press release of the company Brskovo Main.
Through the Brskovo Mine project, more than 550 people should be employed during the expected fifteen-year operations, and more than 700 workers during the two-year construction phase.
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