DPM’s Vareš mine keeps running as concession faces review
Bosnian authorities have six months to review disputed land agreements, leaving mining investment facing legal scrutiny.
DPM Metals, a Canadian miner listed on the TSX and ASX, reported that its Vareš mine in Bosnia and Herzegovina remains operational despite the Constitutional Court's recent ruling. The court declared the concession agreement and associated land decisions unconstitutional, giving authorities six months to review and potentially invalidate the acts.
However, the court's decision does not void the concession agreement or its annexes. The dispute revolves around the authority over state-owned forests and forest land, impacting several large investments across the country. DPM explained that Federation, cantonal, and municipal authorities were deemed unauthorized to enter into the controversial arrangements without the involvement of Bosnia and Herzegovina and its Attorney General's Office.
The court found that the March 2013 concession agreement, its six annexes, and related decisions contravened constitutional provisions on the rule of law and adherence to state legislation. DPM intends to cooperate with the authorities during the review process. Vareš, acquired by DPM in September 2025 through the takeover of Adriatic Metals, started commercial production on August 10.
The mine employs over 600 Bosnian workers and is the largest exporter in the Zenica-Doboj Canton. The review will determine which challenged acts need to be brought into compliance or set aside. The outcome regarding Vareš's land arrangements remains unresolved.
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