The 30 years old zinc and lead smelting factory "Topilnica" (MHK – Zletovo – Veles) in the City of Veles is one of the environmental hot spots in Macedonia due to its historical air and soil pollution. Moreover, the factory is located only 1,5 km from the city center. In 2001 the World Health Organization pinpointed Veles as one of the most polluted towns in the world. The factory production line was closed in 2003 after going bankrupt and under public pressure following a large women's march on 8th of March 2003. The remaining slag was disposed on a site close to the smelter. |
A 30-years-old closed zinc and lead smelting factory -one of the environmental hotspots in Macedonia- will finally stop polluting Veles.
Description
Basic Data
| Name | Pollution from the Topilnica smelter, Veles, Macedonia |
| Country | Macedonia, FYR |
| Site | Veles |
| Accuracy of Location | HIGH local level |
Source of Conflict
Project Details and Actors
| Project Details | Surface of dumpsite: 33.000 m2. Amount of slag containing zinc, lead, cadmium (heavy metals) disposed on the site: 1,700,000 tonnes. |
| Project Area (in hectares) | 42,745 |
| Level of Investment (in USD) | 2,890,000 |
| Type of Population | Urban |
| Potential Affected Population | 55,108 |
| Start Date | 2006 |
| End Date | 03/2016 |
| Company Names or State Enterprises | Metrudhem DOOEL Skopje (Metrudhem) from Macedonia, FYR - Investor in the smelter reopening Ekocentar 97 from Macedonia, FYR - Holder of a 10 years concession to exploit the smelter slag disposal site |
| Relevant government actors | The Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning of Macedonia |
| Environmental justice organisations and other supporters | Zelena Koalicja-Green Coaliton; Еcological association "Vila Zora" http://www.vilazora.org.mk/ |
The Conflict and the Mobilization
| Intensity of Conflict (at highest level) | MEDIUM (street protests, visible mobilization) |
| When did the mobilization begin | Mobilization for reparations once impacts have been felt |
| Groups Mobilizing | Local ejos Local government/political parties Neighbours/citizens/communities Women Local scientists/professionals |
| Forms of Mobilization | Development of alternative proposals Involvement of national and international NGOs Lawsuits, court cases, judicial activism Official complaint letters and petitions Public campaigns Street protest/marches |
Impacts
| Environmental Impacts | Visible: Air pollution, Food insecurity (crop damage), Loss of landscape/aesthetic degradation, Soil contamination, Surface water pollution / Decreasing water (physico-chemical, biological) quality Potential: Soil erosion, Waste overflow, Groundwater pollution or depletion |
| Other | The vegetables produced close by the factory site contained five times bigger content of metal cadmium than allowed 0.3 milligrams. |
| Health Impacts | Visible: Infectious diseases, Deaths, Other environmental related diseases, Other Health impacts Potential: Exposure to unknown or uncertain complex risks (radiation, etc…) |
| Other | Respiratory diseases and cancers; malformation in newborns |
| Socio-economic Impacts | Visible: Lack of work security, labour absenteeism, firings, unemployment Potential: Increase in Corruption/Co-optation of different actors, Displacement |
| Other | Lack of competitiveness of local producers and sellers of fruit and vegetable. |
Outcome
| Project Status | Stopped |
| Pathways for conflict outcome / response | Environmental improvements, rehabilitation/restoration of area Court decision (failure for environmental justice) Application of existing regulations New Environmental Impact Assessment/Study Project cancelled Withdrawal of company/investment Changes in the Urban Plan of the City of Veles- deleting the factory |
| Development of Alternatives | The local government and activists managed to stop the factory reopening by introducing the changes in the Urban Plan of the City of Veles. They also demanded cleaning up of the slag disposal site. |
| Do you consider this as a success? | Yes |
| Why? Explain briefly. | The factory will not be reopened, while slag disposal site will be cleaned in 2 to 3 years by the company Ekocentar 97. |
Sources and Materials
| Legislations |
| ||||||||||||||||
| References |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Links |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Media Links |
| ||||||||||||||||
| Other Documents |
|
Meta Information
| Contributor | Jovanka Spiric, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, vankajo(at)gmail.com |
| Last update | 05/05/2016 |
Comments