{"id":101226,"date":"2024-05-15T13:23:31","date_gmt":"2024-05-15T11:23:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kosovotwopointzero.com\/?p=101226"},"modified":"2024-07-01T15:55:38","modified_gmt":"2024-07-01T13:55:38","slug":"the-trepca-mines-in-photos","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/the-trepca-mines-in-photos\/","title":{"rendered":"The Trep\u00e7a mines in photos"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"101226\" class=\"elementor elementor-101226\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3f21941e elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3f21941e\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-20d5e7b8\" data-id=\"20d5e7b8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2890f897 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2890f897\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h4><strong>The workers of the Trep\u00e7a mines are a symbol of lack of integration in Kosovo.<\/strong><\/h4>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-335358b elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"335358b\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b3b9eb5\" data-id=\"b3b9eb5\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-083b8a7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"083b8a7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Trep\u00e7a mining complex is a striking symbol of the internal division afflicting Kosovo. These lead-zinc and silver ore mines near Kosovo\u2019s northern border with Serbia are the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.intellinews.com\/kosovo-s-vast-trepca-industrial-complex-in-limbo-for-23-years-296439\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">largest<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in Europe. In the 1980s, they <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.wsws.org\/en\/articles\/2002\/06\/trep-j28.html\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">represented<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> about 70% of Yugoslavia\u2019s mineral wealth and employed over <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esiweb.org\/pdf\/esi_bridges_id_2_b.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">20,000<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> people, Kosovo Albanians and Kosovo Serbs alike.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-a06781c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"a06781c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-842d606\" data-id=\"842d606\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d656827 elementor-arrows-position-inside elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-carousel\" data-id=\"d656827\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;slides_to_show&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"image-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel-wrapper swiper-container\" dir=\"ltr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel swiper-wrapper\" aria-live=\"off\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"1 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14067-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"The Trep\u00e7a mining site in Stan Terg.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">The Trep\u00e7a mining site in Stan Terg.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"2 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14220-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Miners on a convoy of wagons exit the mine entrance after the morning shift at the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Miners on a convoy of wagons exit the mine entrance after the morning shift at the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"3 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14881-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Miners on their way to work in the galleries at the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Miners on their way to work in the galleries at the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"4 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14158-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A worker on duty on an extraction machinery at the ore processing site of the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Leposavi\u0107.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">A worker on duty on an extraction machinery at the ore processing site of the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Leposavi\u0107.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-71db1cb elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"71db1cb\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-a770d96\" data-id=\"a770d96\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-29b1c27 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"29b1c27\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Through the 1960s and 1970s, the Trep\u00e7a mines <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esiweb.org\/pdf\/esi_bridges_id_2_b.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">grew<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to be Kosovo\u2019s economic powerhouse. They also reflected inequities in Kosovo\u2019s economic structure and place in socialist Yugoslavia. Serbs held a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esiweb.org\/pdf\/esi_bridges_id_2_b.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">disproportionate<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> number of the administrative positions, while Albanians were significantly underrepresented in the white collar workforce. This situation birthed the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/ekonomiaonline.com\/trepca-radi-beograd-se-gradi\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">slogan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> \u201cTrep\u00e7a works, Belgrade builds.\u201d<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throughout the 1970s, the number of Albanians in higher positions in local political and economic structures throughout Kosovo <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esiweb.org\/pdf\/esi_bridges_id_2_b.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">increased<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, thanks in part to constitutional reform and the creation of the University of Prishtina. This didn\u2019t prevent the Trep\u00e7a mines from becoming a venue in which Kosovo\u2019s future would be contested.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Yugoslavia\u2019s 1974 constitution made Kosovo a Socialist Autonomous Province, but by the end of the 1980s, Slobodan Milo\u0161evi\u0107\u2019s regime sought to revoke this autonomy. On February 20, 1989, 1,200 Kosovar Albanian <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/balkaninsight.com\/2023\/02\/01\/kosovo-miners-underground-strike-of-1989-inspires-exhibition\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">miners<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> began an underground hunger strike, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/oralhistorykosovo.org\/research\/miners-strike-1989\/\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">protesting<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> against the proposed revocation of Kosovo\u2019s autonomy and demanding that their rights under the 1974 constitution be respected. Activists concerned about Belgrade\u2019s increasing consolidation of authority in other parts of the country held <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.degruyter.com\/document\/doi\/10.1515\/soeu-2021-0002\/html?lang=en\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">assemblies<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in support of the striking miners.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trep\u00e7a had covered its operating costs through cheap bank loans, as did many other large economic entities in Yugoslavia. However, this came to an end in the 1980s. The strikes had an additional devastating impact on an already challenging economic picture, as many strikers were arrested, fired, or both. Other Albanian miners left in solidarity. From 1989 to 1991, employment at Trep\u00e7a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esiweb.org\/pdf\/esi_bridges_id_2_b.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">shrank<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> by 57%.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The persistent disparity between the ethnicities in management and labor positions meant that the departure of so many Albanian workers resulted in a massive shortage of laborers and an oversupply of office staff. Foreign miners were <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esiweb.org\/pdf\/esi_bridges_id_2_b.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">contracted<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> to come from Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Poland, as were refugees from Krajina, in Croatia. Environmental concerns also rose during this period; the quantity of lead in the air ultimately <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.esiweb.org\/pdf\/esi_bridges_id_2_b.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">reached<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 125 times the amount deemed acceptable by the European Union.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The outbreak of war interrupted mining activities for the first time. The post-war period has not led to the integration of Kosovo Serbs and Albanians at the mining sites, where they continue to work separately.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-f0b8902 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"f0b8902\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-3561cbd\" data-id=\"3561cbd\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6c1574e elementor-arrows-position-inside elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-carousel\" data-id=\"6c1574e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;slides_to_show&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"image-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel-wrapper swiper-container\" dir=\"ltr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel swiper-wrapper\" aria-live=\"off\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"1 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14170-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Ore processing site of the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Leposavi\u0107.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\"> Ore processing site of the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Leposavi\u0107.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"2 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14887-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Miners at the end of a shift in the galleries at the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Miners at the end of a shift in the galleries at the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"3 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14177-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A map of the nine level galleries of the Serb Trep\u00e7a mining sites in the director\u2019s office in Crnac.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">A map of the nine level galleries of the Serb Trep\u00e7a mining sites in the director\u2019s office in Crnac.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"4 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14145-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Extraction machinery at the ore processing site of the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Leposavi\u0107.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Extraction machinery at the ore processing site of the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Leposavi\u0107.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-61c3064 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"61c3064\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5be8698\" data-id=\"5be8698\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2caec07 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"2caec07\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">2024 marks the 25th anniversary of the end of the war. Every anniversary is a good chance to consider topics that may have been set aside, intentionally or unintentionally.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kosovo had been in the back of my mind for years. I remember being a teenager and living a serene and peaceful life in Italy. Suddenly, like a bolt from the blue, TV and news magazines started talking about the wars in Yugoslavia. We didn\u2019t have any clue of what was happening on the other side of the Adriatic, even though it was just a few dozen kilometers away. The scarcity of Italian correspondents in the area led to a lack of clear information in Italy and we grappled with unexpected questions about the wave of migration.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Basic research on Kosovo\u2019s Gross Domestic Product led me to focus on mining extraction and the Trep\u00e7a enterprise, which is central to Kosovo\u2019s economic past and present. In any socio-political analysis, especially in countries like Kosovo where frictions are still present, a lot can be learned from the economy and which industries and sectors dominate. Additionally, the working class is a good litmus test to understand how things are.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In February, I received free access to the Trep\u00e7a sites through a simple procedure with the Ministry of Economy. Freely talking to directors, employees and miners \u2014 both Serbs and Albanians \u2014 gave me the opportunity to compare the situations on the two sides and gain insights into the workers\u2019 lives. The company&#8217;s availability to formally answer questions completed the information picture needed.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-cfbfcbd elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"cfbfcbd\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-deb7ed8\" data-id=\"deb7ed8\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c664750 elementor-arrows-position-inside elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-carousel\" data-id=\"c664750\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;slides_to_show&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"image-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel-wrapper swiper-container\" dir=\"ltr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel swiper-wrapper\" aria-live=\"off\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"1 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14182-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Uniforms hanging from the ceiling of the miners&#039; changing room inside the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Crnac.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Uniforms hanging from the ceiling of the miners' changing room inside the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Crnac.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"2 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14896-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A miner at work in the gallery at the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">A miner at work in the gallery at the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"3 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP15007-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A wagon convoy driver works on downloading unprocessed ore at the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">A wagon convoy driver works on downloading unprocessed ore at the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"4 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14147-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Extraction machinery at the ore processing site of the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Leposavi\u0107.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Extraction machinery at the ore processing site of the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Leposavi\u0107.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-1839f9f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"1839f9f\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-0e1d1b0\" data-id=\"0e1d1b0\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4d3d5e0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"4d3d5e0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">As I visited the Stan Terg mining site in the Mitrovica region, Shyqyri Sadiku, an Albanian miner who is now the director of the mining site, told me about the work situation before the war, the week-long hunger strike in 1989 in which he participated, the years of effort to open the flooded mine after the conflict and the 20 million euros that the Kosovar government intends to invest in the coming years. That money won\u2019t be invested in equipment or improvements, but rather will be mostly used to pay miners\u2019 suspended pension contributions.&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before entering the lift and descending 900 meters below the entrance level, I asked my guide about the percentage of Serbs and Albanians present at this particular mining site. &#8220;No,\u201d he casually responded, \u201cthere are no Serbian workers here, and we hope it stays like this because we don&#8217;t want them.\u201d Whether it&#8217;s miners going down in galleries, administrative employees, or support workers like cooks or cleaning staff, all workers at the site are Albanian.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When I was applying to visit the company, I asked the Trep\u00e7a representative about potential security issues in Serb majority municipalities, where most of the company&#8217;s sites are. He serenely replied that they had \u201cnever had any problem with mining activities because the sector is not managed by the single municipalities, but regulated by the government.\u201d&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-fd4c966 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"fd4c966\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-fe16889\" data-id=\"fe16889\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e8f1959 elementor-arrows-position-inside elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-carousel\" data-id=\"e8f1959\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;slides_to_show&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"image-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel-wrapper swiper-container\" dir=\"ltr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel swiper-wrapper\" aria-live=\"off\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"1 of 3\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP13957-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Shyqyri Sadiku, 60, Director of a Trepca mine site, portrayed in his office in Stan Terg.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Shyqyri Sadiku, 60, Director of a Trepca mine site, portrayed in his office in Stan Terg.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"2 of 3\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14908-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Miners at work in the gallery at the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Miners at work in the gallery at the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"3 of 3\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14040-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Trepca logo on a miner&#039;s uniform on the 10th underground level of the Trepca mining facilities in Stan Terg.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Trepca logo on a miner's uniform on the 10th underground level of the Trepca mining facilities in Stan Terg.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-33189c0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"33189c0\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-b651c98\" data-id=\"b651c98\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-99fb131 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"99fb131\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A few tens of kilometers north of Stan Terg, the situation at the Leposavi\u0107 refinery and Crnac mining site is the exact opposite. Here, 100% of the workers are Serbs. The majority of the Serb community in Kosovo lives on the north side of the Ibar River. The river longitudinally divides the city of Mitrovica and also splits the Trep\u00e7a sites.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sinisa Milutinovi\u0107, the director of Leposavi\u0107 refinery and Crnac mining site, told me his version of events; they match the Albanian director\u2019s only when talking about the peaceful working coexistence before the war. Today, his production sites only have Serb workers. There is no hint of change here either.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Milutinovi\u0107\u2019s list of difficulties and problems is long. Like the director of the mine where Albanian miners work, he only wants his employees to have the opportunity to work and receive their full salaries on time.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-5679577 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"5679577\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-52b0213\" data-id=\"52b0213\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-befc186 elementor-arrows-position-inside elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-carousel\" data-id=\"befc186\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;slides_to_show&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"image-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel-wrapper swiper-container\" dir=\"ltr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel swiper-wrapper\" aria-live=\"off\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"1 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14089-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Map in the site director&#039;s office in Leposavi\u0107.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Map in the site director's office in Leposavi\u0107. <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"2 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14204-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"59-year-old Radoje Milovanovi\u0107 is a former wagon convoy driver and now is a production engineer at the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Crnac.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">59-year-old Radoje Milovanovi\u0107 is a former wagon convoy driver and now is a production engineer at the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Crnac.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"3 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14978-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A supervisor checks the loading of the wagon convoy in the Trep\u00e7a mine in Crnac.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">A supervisor checks the loading of the wagon convoy in the Trep\u00e7a mine in Crnac.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"4 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14002-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Clothes hanging to dry on a rope on the 10th underground level of the Trep\u00e7a mining facilities in Stan Terg.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Clothes hanging to dry on a rope on the 10th underground level of the Trep\u00e7a mining facilities in Stan Terg.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"5 of 5\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP13981-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Workers and engineers walking a gallery on the 10th underground level of the Trep\u00e7a mining facilities in Stan Terg.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Workers and engineers walking a gallery on the 10th underground level of the Trep\u00e7a mining facilities in Stan Terg.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-9d0d72c elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"9d0d72c\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-f428491\" data-id=\"f428491\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-f8a79f7 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"f8a79f7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Underground, the situation is clear. The work of a miner is hard and tiring. The conditions are not dramatic or prohibitive, but difficult to sustain in the long term. Arben Halili, a 45-year-old miner, tells me that &#8220;The hardest bread is the one earned in the mine.&#8221; Humidity, dust, noise, fatigue and the risk rate make the work highly demanding and significantly shorten the workers\u2019 lives.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When I asked about their payment, most of them complained about how their salaries are insufficient for supporting their families due to rising prices and a clear change of lifestyle in the country, as globalization and social media spur increased consumerism.<\/span><\/p><p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The internal divisions of the Trep\u00e7a workers disappear when talking about their future; they all wish politics could be removed from the equation because they simply want to work, support their families and avoid having to emigrate.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-411ad12 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"411ad12\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-db287ac\" data-id=\"db287ac\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5b98da7 elementor-arrows-position-inside elementor-pagination-position-outside elementor-widget elementor-widget-image-carousel\" data-id=\"5b98da7\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;slides_to_show&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;navigation&quot;:&quot;both&quot;,&quot;autoplay&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_hover&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;pause_on_interaction&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;autoplay_speed&quot;:5000,&quot;infinite&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;effect&quot;:&quot;slide&quot;,&quot;speed&quot;:500}\" data-widget_type=\"image-carousel.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel-wrapper swiper-container\" dir=\"ltr\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-image-carousel swiper-wrapper\" aria-live=\"off\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"1 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14038-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"39-year-old Dritan Sadiku, a Trep\u00e7a miner, at work on the 10th underground level of the Trep\u00e7a mining facilities in Stan Terg.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">39-year-old Dritan Sadiku, a Trep\u00e7a miner, at work on the 10th underground level of the Trep\u00e7a mining facilities in Stan Terg.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"2 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14111-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"51-year-old Ninoslav Bozori\u0107, a worker of the ore processing site, at work at the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Leposavi\u0107.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">51-year-old Ninoslav Bozori\u0107, a worker of the ore processing site, at work at the Trep\u00e7a facilities in Leposavi\u0107.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"3 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP14958-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Miners&#039; resting room in the galleries of the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Miners' resting room in the galleries of the Trep\u00e7a mine site in Crnac.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><div class=\"swiper-slide\" role=\"group\" aria-roledescription=\"slide\" aria-label=\"4 of 4\"><figure class=\"swiper-slide-inner\"><img class=\"swiper-slide-image\" src=\"https:\/\/archive.kosovotwopointzero.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/MP13989-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"Mechanics and blacksmiths work to repair machinery on the 10th underground level of the Trep\u00e7a mining facilities in Stan Terg.\" \/><figcaption class=\"elementor-image-carousel-caption\">Mechanics and blacksmiths work to repair machinery on the 10th underground level of the Trep\u00e7a mining facilities in Stan Terg.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-prev\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-left\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-swiper-button elementor-swiper-button-next\" role=\"button\" tabindex=\"0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"eicon-chevron-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"swiper-pagination\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-b110abc elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"b110abc\" data-element_type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-6e4f6ac\" data-id=\"6e4f6ac\" data-element_type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-b6e58b9 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"b6e58b9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b>Photos: Matteo Placucci.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Additional reporting by <a style=\"text-decoration: underline; text-decoration-color: yellow;\" href=\"https:\/\/kosovotwopointzero.com\/en\/author\/nicholas-kulawiak\/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicholas Kulawiak<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-954fff2 elementor-section-full_width elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"954fff2\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-2a8ca46\" data-id=\"2a8ca46\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-settings=\"{&quot;background_background&quot;:&quot;classic&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-779fbf9 elementor-widget-divider--view-line_icon elementor-view-default elementor-widget-divider--element-align-center elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"779fbf9\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div 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