Villagers near Serbia's Kolubara mine warn of coal fires; EPS claims control

Villagers living near the Kolubara coal mining basin in Serbia are raising alarms about spontaneous coal combustion and worsening air pollution. They claim that coal has ignited on the mining sites, exacerbating an already difficult environmental situation.

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We live in the 21st century, and it's not shameful to talk about problems so they can be solved.

Goran Petrović from the Baroševac environmental association told N1 that he observed smoke near the mining basin on the morning of August 21, 2026. "We live in the 21st century, and it's not shameful to talk about problems so they can be solved," Petrović stated, emphasizing the community's long struggle for clean air, land, and water.

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Coal self-ignition is a common occurrence in surface coal exploitation and occurs at surface mines, especially during high temperatures and long dry periods.

The state power company, Elektroprivreda Srbije (EPS), acknowledged that coal self-ignition is a common phenomenon in surface mining, particularly during high temperatures and prolonged dry periods. EPS assured that the situation is under control and that there is no threat to infrastructure, employee safety, or human lives. They stated that the self-ignition zones are continuously monitored using thermal imaging to ensure timely intervention.

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The self-ignition zone is under control and constant and continuous observations and thermal imaging are being carried out, to monitor the situation and take necessary measures in a timely manner.

EPS explained that the fires are extinguished by directly covering the burning areas with overburden material. However, residents like Petrović argue that these measures are insufficient. He mentioned that a citizen from the neighboring village of Medoševac had reported a similar incident to the mining inspectorate last year, receiving a response that remediation was underway. "So they put it out today, but it flares up periodically in the morning and evening," Petrović said, highlighting that this is just one part of the broader environmental challenges faced by the community, including contaminated land and a lack of potable water.

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So they put it out today, but it flares up periodically in the morning and evening.