The Spatial Plan Through 2040 Opens Five More Mines — First Heated Public Hearing Held in Strumica
Ilovica-Shtuka, Kazan Dol, Plavica, Kadiica and Luke — sites the previous plan did not designate for mining.
The Ministry of Environment and Physical Planning began a cycle of regional public hearings on the draft National Spatial Plan for 2021-2040, with the first hearing held in Strumica, covering the Southeast planning region. The hall was full, with strong reaction from those present.
A disputed part of the draft plan designates five additional sites for opening new metal mines by 2040: Ilovica-Shtuka, Kazan Dol, Plavica, Kadiica and Luke. Activists from the Strumica basin argue the document goes against the will of the local population, noting that in the previous plan, in effect from 2004 to 2020, some of these sites were not marked for mining.
Opposition leader Venko Filipche also spoke at the event, calling the new draft plan concerning compared to the previous one. Representatives of the Spatial Planning Agency and the Ministry said they were ready to hear the comments and criticism, announcing the hearing would continue across all remaining planning regions of the country.
The National Spatial Plan is a key strategic document defining land use, development and protection guidelines for at least the next fifteen years — with municipal general urban plans required to align with it afterward. A specific date for the plan's final adoption has not yet been announced.
MKNews Hub · Macedonia · September 25, 2026
