[Translation prepared by Business & Human Rights Resource Centre]

In central BiH, there are fears that the British company's mining will endanger water and forests, 25 January 2024

For Vareš, a "project of the future and development", for neighboring Kakanj, a "project of ruin" that locals and environmental activists believe will endanger drinking water and forest resources...

...[T]hey fear that mining will endanger the drinking water of 30,000 people.

Therefore, an alternative source of water supply is being considered, in addition to the two existing ones, Bukovica and Trstionica, which are located near the open pit mines...

Twice last year, the presence of significant amounts of cadmium was recorded in the Bukovica River, according to analyses by the Kakanj water supply system.

"The appearance of cadmium was caused by deforestation, and deforestation was not caused by Vodokom, but by them (Adriatic Metals), they are muddying the water, because they are causing soil erosion when cutting down that forest," Haris Veispahić, director of the Kakanj water supply, told Radio Free Europe (RFE)...

The British company told RFE/RL that they have all permits for exploitation, and that there is no proven connection between the activities of "Adriatic Metals BiH" and the water supply issues of the Kakanj municipality, and that all activities carried out in the mine are not connected to the Bukovica River.

"Hydrogeological research has been carried out, which has proven that these are two separate basins," the company responded to RFE/RL's inquiry.

They also add that there is no evidence that the work of "Adriatic Metals" affects the presence of cadmium, nor is it present at the Rupice open-pit mine.

"Cadmium is naturally present in the soil and the Bukovica basin, and there are analyses from authorized laboratories from before exploitation began at the mine site," Adriatic Metals BiH told RFE/RL.

They also state that last year, "Adriatic Metals BiH" was the subject of 46 inspections from various levels of government...