Montenegro is taking significant steps towards the exploration and potential mining of copper and barite as part of its annual concession granting plan for 2026. This initiative includes detailed geological exploration near the village of Varine for copper ore and in the Kovač region for barite, both of which are classified as critical raw materials by the European Union.
The plan outlines a five-year concession for the Varine copper deposit, situated approximately 1,250 meters above sea level near Kosanica. Historical surveys have estimated that this site holds around 7.3 million tonnes of copper ore categorized under C1 and C2 reserves, with an average copper content of 0.77 percent. Additionally, the deposit is believed to contain silver at about 9 grams per tonne and gold at approximately 0.3 grams per tonne. There is also a potential for an estimated 24 million tonnes of copper ore at lower confidence levels, indicating substantial resource potential pending further exploration.
Despite the Varine copper deposit not having been previously exploited, officials emphasize that advancing exploration efforts could provide a clearer understanding of the resource base and its market value. The terms of the concession mandate environmental impact assessments and ongoing monitoring of air, water, and soil quality throughout the exploration process, with initial operations anticipated to create around 15 jobs.
Simultaneously, the concession plan includes a 30-year concession for geological exploration and possible exploitation of barite in the Kovač region, which encompasses over 230 square kilometers and includes several ore fields such as Potkovača, Plakala, and Plani-Arslanovine. Barite was historically mined in this area during the 1950s, with about 50,000 tonnes exported between 1948 and 1955. Current evaluations suggest that the Potkovača deposit contains nearly 293,000 tonnes of barite with barium sulfate (BaSO₄) content varying from 41 percent to over 93 percent depending on the specific ore body.
According to the proposed concession terms, at least 20 new jobs are expected to be generated from this initiative. The minimum concession fee is set at 4 percent of annual revenues, with a distribution plan allocating 70 percent of proceeds to the Pljevlja municipal budget and 30 percent to the state budget. Compliance with environmental regulations and national legislation will be necessary before any extraction activities can commence.
The inclusion of copper and barite mining in Montenegro’s upcoming concession plan highlights a growing interest in developing critical minerals essential for industrial supply chains. However, it also raises important considerations regarding environmental protection, local employment opportunities, and the long-term economic benefits for the Pljevlja region.
