Serbia Centar asks minister if mineral reserve data is still a 'state secret'

The Serbian Centar (SRCE) party has demanded clarity from the Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, regarding the classification of data on mineral resource reserves. SRCE wants to know if this information, previously designated a "state secret" to prevent harm to Serbia's interests, is still classified.

The party's relevant committee for energy and mining stated that a document titled "Information on the balance of mineral resources and reserves, resources and reserves of groundwater and geothermal resources," marked "state secret" and "kept permanently," should be in the ministry's possession. They expressed concern that this document might be missing or never reached the minister.

SRCE also reminded that geological exploration permits do not automatically grant mining rights. According to the law, the exploration rights holder gains priority for a mining permit after successfully identifying and verifying mineral reserves. However, the party claims that companies are undertaking extensive activities beyond the scope of exploration, including building access roads, installing utilities, expropriating land, and influencing local spatial plans.

The party specifically cited locations near Zaječar for the Chinese "Malka Golaja" gold mine, the Jadar project for "Rio Tinto," Rogozna, Bobija, and areas around Valjevo and Žagubica for boron minerals. SRCE argues that such prolonged exploration is unnecessary for already well-researched areas and that these activities are effectively creating a fait accompli, with the minister's tacit consent, to establish "mines in formation."