Serbia

Majdanpek is a small town located in the northeast of Serbia, known for its rich deposits of copper and gold. The road leading to Majdanpek is a real adventure in itself. The main road starts from the direction of Donji Milanovac, winding through beautiful landscapes and dense forests, with a view of the Danube and the slopes of Mount Homolje. The height at which Majdanpek is located is about 370 meters above sea level, which makes it one of the places with fresh mountain air and harsh climatic conditions. The first thing that intrigues you on the way to the mine is the fact that it is an additional, almost hidden road. It’s a direction that hardly anyone decides to take, unless they’re specifically heading for a copper and gold mine. The very fact that you are on this path makes the experience even more mystical. Few come here on a whim. It’s as if the nature around you slowly changes its character as you approach, moving from gentle valleys to dramatic and high mountains. The mountains surrounding Majdanpek are impressive with their height and massiveness. The slopes of Veliki Krš and Mali Krš mountains dominate the horizon, while dense forests hide wild animal species. These mountains are not only natural guardians of the mineral wealth that lies beneath the earth, but also give this area a special kind of harshness and unpredictability. When entering Majdanpek, you pass through fascinating tunnels carved through the mountain massifs, which makes the journey particularly dramatic. These tunnels, carved into the hard rock, offer drivers a view of stunning mountain scenery as the winding road opens up towards the mining town. As you get closer to the mine, you can feel the smell of minerals in the air, and the very structure of the terrain changes into sharper and rockier shapes. The whole scene is reminiscent of a long-lost era, where nature ruled over human influence, and man had just begun to uncover the secrets of the earth. Chinese Mining Company ZiJin or as the locals call it Zli Džin (Evil Giant) After I arrived in Majdanpek, one of the local young men shared with me a story about the current state of the mine. A new Chinese company, Zijin, which runs copper and gold mining operations, has come into the limelight, but unfortunately in a negative way. The Chinese have invested heavily in the opening of the mine, but the locals call it the “Evil Giant”, reflecting their distaste for the project. Locals, who have lived at the foot of these mountains for generations, do not take kindly to foreigners who come to extract natural resources from their land. They believe that ecological standards, as well as their traditional values ​​and customs, are not respected. As the young man explained to me, this project caused a wave of discontent and protests were organized throughout the region. People gathered, with banners and messages against the Chinese company, hoping that their voices would be heard. However, the situation quickly escalated when police forces from other cities began arriving at the protests. Clashes became inevitable, and the number of injured grew day by day. The local population experienced this situation as a big blow, not only physically but also emotionally, because they felt that they were losing the battle to preserve their area. Oh and don’t let me forget the everyday sound of sirens and dynamite explosions, the mining excavation project’s main explosions seem to be happening around noon with sirens going off depending on the amount of explosives getting ready to be detonated, short siren from about 15-30 seconds for minor explosions and 30+ second sirens for pretty big explosions that can be clearly heard from any spot inside the town. So if you’re a big fan of warzone type of ambients this is the perfect place to visit ! Majdanpek employment and perspective of youth One day during my stay in Majdanpek, I met an elderly lady who agreed to talk to me, but I will not be revealing her personal information, because as the population is small, everyone knows each other in Majdanpek. This woman, with sadness in her voice, told me about the difficult employment situation in the city. In Majdanpek, the only real job opportunity is the mine. Most people have no other options but to hope for employment in the mining operation. This woman told me how one of her children had been trying to get a job in the mine for long time. Though eventually managing to get a job, but only after she used the few important contacts she had. This story is not uncommon in Majdanpek, where personal connections are often the key to getting a job. Pay at the mine varies, Serbian workers earn between 650 and 1,000 euros per month, while Chinese workers earn significantly more — from 3,000 to 5,000 euros per month. This difference in wages only further deepens the feeling of injustice and dissatisfaction among the local population. Unfortunately, young people in Majdanpek do not have many perspectives. Most of them have only two options — to try and get a job in the mine or to go to a bigger city in search of better opportunities. Although the people of Majdanpek try to maintain a positive spirit and faith in a better future, it is hard not to feel the gravity of the situation when you talk to them. In their stories, you can feel despair and insecurity, although they try to hide it in their everyday conversations. Our stay at the Golden Inn Hotel located in Majdanpek During my stay in Majdanpek, I stayed at the Golden Inn Hotel, the largest and most luxurious hotel in this small mining town. The hotel has three stars, but my experience was far below the expected level. When we entered our rooms, we immediately noticed the dust left over from the maintenance work. Apparently, the staff were just installing new smoke detectors,