On Tuesday, the Stop Usje initiative organized a protest march in Skopje over, as it said, the request by the cement plant to extend its A-integrated permit based on outdated standards. Outside the Environment and Physical Planning Ministry, protesters said the request contained serious shortcomings, including the absence of obligations related to monitoring of heavy metals and dioxins.
Earlier on Tuesday, however, the company had reiterated that it remained committed to applying the highest environmental standards and fully complying with legal regulations. It added that the procedure regarding the permit was being conducted in accordance with valid laws and bylaws, as well as that the entire documentation was publicly available for review by all interested parties.