Several hundred demonstrators marched through the central Bosnian city of Zenica on Friday, voicing opposition to the shutdown of the country’s last major steel mill and urging authorities and owners to reopen the facility. The procession took place against the backdrop of the May Day public holiday, with protesters sounding whistles, waving union flags and chanting demands for the plant to resume production.
Protesters said last week’s stoppage at the historic Zenica Steel Factory, which has operated for roughly 130 years, puts thousands of jobs in the wider steel sector at risk. The closure follows the earlier shutdown in February of the Lukavac coke factory, another facility that feeds the industry.
"Zenica does not exist without the Zenica steel factory," marcher Avdija Halilovi07 told reporters as he marched with colleagues and union representatives. The demonstrators framed the factory as central to the citys identity and to local employment.
The plant is owned by Bosnias Pavgord Group, which acquired the site last year from ArcelorMittal. Company officials attributed the recent halt in operations to a combination of logistical problems, competition from cheaper imported steel and what they described as the government's failure to introduce measures to shield the domestic industry. The owner was not available for further comment on Friday.
Regional political leaders have signaled possible involvement. Nermin Niksic, prime minister of the Bosniak-Croat federation, said the regional government was interested in taking ownership and supporting continued operations, according to a report on the N1 news website.
Pressure on the supply chain intensified this week when Nova Ljubija, an iron ore mine that supplies the steel mill, filed for bankruptcy. The bankruptcy filing affects nearly 600 mine workers and represents another strain on the mill's sourcing and employment base.
Context and implications
The protests underscore tensions between industrial employers, workers and regional authorities as the plant's closure ripples through related businesses and local employment. With the owner citing both market and logistical pressures, the situation raises questions about continuity of production, supply chains and the willingness or ability of public authorities to assume ownership or provide protective measures.