On Friday, hundreds of employees took to the streets of Zenica, a central Bosnian city, demanding the restart of operations at the nation’s final remaining steel production facility. The demonstrators say the plant’s closure signals the conclusion of Bosnia’s heavy manufacturing period.
The 130-year-old Zenica Steel Factory ceased operations last week, placing thousands of industry jobs in jeopardy, according to protesters. This shutdown came just months after the Lukavac coke production facility closed its doors in February.
“Zenica does not exist without the Zenica steel factory,” demonstrator Avdija Halilović stated to Reuters while protesters used whistles, waved union banners, and chanted demands for the facility’s reopening.
The Pavgord Group of Bosnia, which purchased the facility from ArcelorMittal in the previous year, attributed last month’s closure to transportation challenges, lower-cost foreign steel imports, and what the company described as government inaction in implementing industry protection policies.
Company representatives were unavailable for additional statements on Friday, which was the May Day holiday.
According to N1 news reports, Nermin Niksic, who serves as prime minister of Bosnia’s Bosniak-Croat federation, announced Thursday that regional authorities were considering acquiring the plant and supporting continued operations.
Additional complications arose this week when Nova Ljubija iron ore mining operations, a crucial steel mill supplier, declared bankruptcy, impacting approximately 600 employees.
