Urgent Environmental and Public Health Concerns Over Prilep city in North Macedonia Marble Mining
BREAKING NEWS: Prilep, North Macedonia (November 02, 2025) – Local communities in Prilep City are raising serious concerns over the marble mining operations in the Rudnik/Samarnica area.
The mining, conducted by a Macedonian-Turkish company, has raised alarms due to potential air, water, and soil pollution, which could put the health of residents at risk.
Residents report dust, noise, and other environmental hazards, with local protests and strikes signaling growing public discontent. The concession for this mining area was sold by the North Macedonian authorities, sparking questions about oversight and regulation.
This level of excavation without proper safeguards is extremely worrying,” said Gorjan Jovanovski, Macedonian environmental activist known for the AirCare app monitoring air quality. “People’s health is at stake, and authorities appear unresponsive to community concerns.
Ana Čolović Lešoska – biologist and Goldman Environmental Prize laureate, added: “Mining activities in sensitive regions like Prilep threaten not just the environment, but the well-being of citizens. Urgent action is needed to enforce environmental standards and protect public health.”
Health experts warn that prolonged exposure to dust and industrial pollutants can increase the risk of respiratory diseases and other serious illnesses. Local communities are calling for urgent intervention by both national authorities and international bodies, including the European Union, to ensure proper environmental standards are enforced.
This situation highlights the urgent need for transparency, environmental protection, and public health monitoring in North Macedonia’s resource extraction sector.
