North Macedonia is preparing new legislation for geological exploration and mining as the country seeks to support new investment while strengthening environmental safeguards and requirements for mine rehabilitation and closure. Energy, Mining and Mineral Resources Minister said the proposed framework is intended to introduce clearer rules, more predictable procedures and greater legal certainty for investors. The legislation would also raise requirements for environmental protection, mining waste management and post-production site rehabilitation.
The planned changes are being developed against a decline in activity across the domestic mining industry. Official statistics showed that mining and quarrying production fell 5.9% year on year in July 2026, while sector employment decreased 7.8%.
Mining legislation benchmarked against European frameworks
An independent expert review assessed the proposed legislation against mining and geological frameworks in Austria, Germany, Poland, the Czech Republic, Finland and Croatia. The review found that the planned North Macedonian framework is broadly consistent with European practice, including developing EU policies covering critical and strategic raw materials.
The legislative changes are intended to provide a more defined regulatory structure for exploration and mining while incorporating requirements covering environmental performance, mining waste and the rehabilitation of mining sites once production ends.
Existing mines and limited new project pipeline
North Macedonia already has several operating base-metal mines, including Bucim, Sasa, Zletovo and Toranica. At the same time, the pipeline of major new mining developments remains limited. One of the largest proposed investments is the Ilovica–Štuka copper-gold project, which is associated with an estimated capital requirement of approximately €350 million.
The project has encountered prolonged opposition and regulatory uncertainty, highlighting the difficulties involved in moving mineral resources from the development stage to construction. A clearer legislative framework could reduce procedural uncertainty for mining companies, while environmental studies and engagement with affected municipalities would remain part of the project-development process.
The effectiveness of the proposed legislation will depend on how approval procedures are implemented alongside transparent environmental reviews. For North Macedonia’s mining sector, the regulatory changes are being prepared as production and employment decline and as the country seeks to attract investment into new mineral projects, including developments involving copper and gold.
