Activists protest outside the Ministry of Environment, demand stricter criteria for “Usje’s” new permit

Outside the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning, environmental activists from the civic initiative “Stop for Usje,” together with local residents, held a protest tonight demanding that European environmental protection standards be applied to the renewal of the integrated A permit for the “Usje” Cement Factory.

On the same issue, participants stressed that protecting public health must take precedence over economic interests. They, who had previously organized protests over air pollution, carried banners reading “No to a new permit under the old rules,” “Health before profit,” and “Skopje for people, not for industry.”

On the Ministry’s official website, the request for renewal of the permit was made public on May 22, while at the same time it was also forwarded to the Municipality of Kisella Voda and the City of Skopje. Its publication also marked the start of the one-month deadline, a period during which citizens and institutions have the opportunity to review it and submit comments.

Most recently, the Minister of Environment and Physical Planning, Muamet Hoxha, announced that the deadline for submitting comments ends on June 22. He also said that a public hearing session has been scheduled for this case during the first week of July.

Hoxha explained that, although the procedure is being conducted in accordance with the current legislation, the permit in question will be aligned with the new Law on the Control of Industrial Emissions. This law provides for significantly stricter environmental standards and is expected to begin being implemented from September of next year.

According to the minister, in the future all operators holding integrated A permits will be required to comply with the new environmental protection criteria. He added that after 2027, the review of all existing permits will also continue.

Meanwhile, the Ministry is also working on establishing a register of industrial facilities that hold integrated A permits. According to the announcements, companies will be required to regularly submit measurement data, which will then be published publicly on the Ministry’s website.