EAST SARAJEVO: The company “ISKOP” carries out (il)legal excavations in Klek.

The quarry in Klek has existed for more than ten years. The excavations are getting larger, while the amount of stone is decreasing. The company whose construction machinery we found at the site says it is “waiting for a concession decision,” while at the same time receiving municipal tenders. Residents are waiting for answers: Does the company have all the necessary permits, and has someone been using public property for years?

 

By: Sanja Vasković
Cover photo: SPIN Info

 

If you take the road from the Tilava settlement in the municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo towards Klek and further on to Jahorina, you will encounter large stone excavations in the heart of nature.

 

What looks like a quarry has existed at this location for years. Over time, the excavations have become deeper, while there is less and less stone—and forest.

 

Source: Google Earth, quarry in 2016.

 

Source: Google Earth, quarry in 2025.

 

The site is not fenced off, nor are there any indications that this is a legally authorized site for the extraction of raw materials.

 

Most of the residents we spoke to confirmed that the quarry is active, that machinery is operating and trucks are driving in and out, but they do not know who is carrying out the work, on whose orders, or whether the necessary permits exist.

 

“What they are doing at the quarry is a crime. The clouds of dust are so thick that it is horrifying,” was just one of the messages we received from local residents.

 

Our journalists have also been monitoring the situation on the ground for months.

 

At the site, we found construction machinery.

 

It was marked with the name of the company “ISKOP” from Istočno Novo Sarajevo.

Photo: SPIN Info

 

It was clear that excavation work was underway.

 

However, there is no concession issued for stone extraction anywhere in the municipality.

 

The aforementioned company has a permit only for detailed geological exploration.

 

This was confirmed to SPIN Info by the Ministry of Energy and Mining of Republika Srpska.

 

“Once the geological exploration is completed, the conditions will be met for potentially initiating the procedure for awarding a concession,” the Ministry said.

 

But what does this mean in practice?

 

It means that commercial exploitation of the deposit, i.e. selling the stone, is not permitted.

 

Only limited quantities of mineral raw material may be extracted for the purpose of testing its quality and technological properties.

 

According to a rough estimate, around twenty truckloads of raw material would be sufficient for exploration purposes in this case.

 

After the geological exploration, an elaboration and study must be prepared, along with the collection of permits required to submit an application for a concession.

 

The land on which the quarry is located is owned by Republika Srpska.

Source: RUGIPP

It is classified as fifth-class forest land.

 

Company Owner Claims Everything Is Legal

We did not receive clear answers from the owner of “ISKOP,” Petar Maunaga, regarding his company’s activities at the Klek quarry.

 

He claims that everything is legal and that the quarry is only being used to crush sand. Maunaga added that they are waiting for a concession and that the ministry provided us with incorrect information.

 

SPIN Info: “You claim that it is legal?”

Iskop: “Everything is legal, I stand by that.”

SPIN Info: “When did you receive approval for the initial geological exploration?”

Iskop: “About six months ago, I think.”

SPIN Info: “There is more at that quarry…”

Iskop: “I don’t know what else there is. There were people who were taking material and… I don’t know.”

SPIN Info: “I’m interested in what basis you are carrying out this extraction?”

Iskop: “Well, on that basis. Call the ministry and they will explain everything to you. Okay, goodbye.”

 

For each project, the competent ministry determines an exploration period, which is defined in the decision approving the exploration. That period may be extended if the holder of the exploration permit meets the conditions prescribed by law.

 

In practice, this means that exploration at a single site can last for several years.

 

At the same time, the law provides for the possibility of revoking the approval before the expiry of the authorized period if the work is not being carried out in accordance with the approved project or legal obligations.

 

Almost all residents of East Sarajevo have known about the quarry in Klek for years.

 

They talk about it, but not publicly.

 

Berbić: Determine Whether the Work Complies with Environmental Protection Regulations

 

Experiences from the field and numerous cases cited by citizens, activists and part of the professional community suggest that situations are increasingly occurring in which permits for detailed geological exploration are being abused for the purpose of commercial exploitation of raw materials.

 

“The potential for abuse became particularly significant after amendments to the Republika Srpska Geological Exploration Law, which substantially increased the quantities of mineral raw materials that may be extracted during exploration. Even when these amendments were adopted, there were warnings that such provisions could enable actual exploitation under the guise of exploration work, without going through the concession-awarding procedure and all accompanying control mechanisms,” Azra Berbić, an activist with the ACT Foundation, told SPIN Info.

Azra Berbić, ACT Foundation, photo provided

 

She adds that following the amendments, during exploration it is possible to extract up to 2,000 tonnes of metallic mineral raw materials and up to 500 tonnes of non-metallic mineral raw materials, which represents a significant increase compared with the previous legal framework.

 

“This is precisely why part of the professional community warns that substantial quantities of mineral raw materials could be extracted under the guise of exploration before the formal procedure for obtaining an exploitation permit and concession has even been initiated,” Berbić states.

 

One of the long-time residents of Klek told us that the Tilava spring is located approximately 700 metres away as the crow flies.

 

According to Berbić, this is an additional reason for concern.

 

She believes that the competent institutions should determine whether there are risks to water resources and whether all activities are being carried out in accordance with prescribed environmental protection requirements.

 

“Ultimately, responsible management of natural resources means that the public interest, environmental protection and respect for the law must come before individual economic interests,” Berbić concludes.

 

Contracts and Awards, the Quarry and Dečanska Street

The company “ISKOP” has been in existence for more than twenty years.

 

In 2007, it began cooperating with public institutions, primarily the municipalities of Istočna Ilidža and Istočno Novo Sarajevo.

 

Intensive cooperation with the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo began during the term of the former municipal mayor, and current Mayor of East Sarajevo, Ljubiša Ćosić.

 

The first major contract came with the construction of one of the municipality’s main streets, Dečanska Street. The contract was signed in 2018.

 

The company was paid BAM 1,155,321, including VAT, for this project.

 

“The deadline for completing the works is 135 days from the date the contractor is formally introduced to the project,” the public procurement notice stated.

 

It was March 2020, and Dečanska Street had still not been completed. Moreover, the municipality awarded the company additional funds for extra works.

 

The amount was BAM 214,204, including VAT.

 

Finally, in mid-August 2020, with numerous dignitaries in attendance and a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Dečanska Street in Istočno Novo Sarajevo was officially opened. Two months later, Ljubiša Ćosić was elected Mayor of East Sarajevo.

Opening of Dečanska Street, photo: Katera

 

After Jovan Katić became the new municipal mayor, the company received an increasing number of contracts. This was followed by the paving of streets and parking lots in 2022 and 2023.

 

In 2024, together with “DEMUS,” the company was awarded a contract for the construction of the Uzdojnice–Section I road.

 

The contracted value of the works was BAM 348,827 including VAT.

 

They were the only bidder.

The road was not completed within the specified deadline, so “ISKOP” received additional funds the following year, in 2025. An additional BAM 64,311, including VAT, was allocated from the municipal budget for this road.

 

Interestingly, “ISKOP” is registered on the very street in question—the company’s headquarters are located in Uzdojnice.

 

Last year, on the occasion of the Municipality of Istočno Novo Sarajevo’s Day and patron saint’s celebration, the company “ISKOP” was among those presented with a plaque for its contribution to the development and advancement of the municipality.