Worker disobedience at abandoned Koksara Lukavac: Furnaces without supervision, ecological disaster threatens wider area

(Patria) - Workers of Koksara Lukavac in bankruptcy have left their workplaces, and the coke furnaces are currently without supervision, the union announced, warning that an ecological disaster threatens the wider area if the competent institutions do not urgently get involved in resolving the problem.

In the statement, the union stated that it is no longer able to convince the workers to return to their workplaces, and that worker disobedience is in effect. As they emphasize, the situation is extremely serious because leaving the coke furnaces uncontrolled can have unforeseeable consequences for the safety of people and the environment.

This development occurred after months of problems in the functioning and survival of Koksara, which is undergoing bankruptcy proceedings. Further instability was caused by a letter from the lessee H&P d.o.o., which sent a notice to the management of Koksara in bankruptcy about the suspension of raw material delivery and the cessation of activities related to the lease and management of the production process, starting from December 22, 2025. They cited rising costs, financial burdens, and regulatory risks as reasons.

This was followed by a reaction from the Independent Union of Chemical and Non-Metallic Workers in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, which stated that the workers would not shut down the furnaces, stating that this could have serious consequences for their safety. The union warned that Koksara has been brought to a state of decay for years, that bankruptcy has already left about 200 workers jobless, and that responsibility for the current situation is being attempted to be shifted to the workers.

According to the union, about 560 remaining workers have maintained a minimum level of production for months to prevent the complete shutdown of Koksara, and the abandonment of workplaces, as they emphasize, is the result of long-term pressure, uncertainty, and the lack of concrete solutions from the competent institutions.

The union once again appealed to the competent authorities to react urgently, emphasizing that the responsibility for the safety of the plant and possible consequences lies with the institutions and entities that have the legal authority to act.