Serbia is currently managing an estimated seven million tonnes of industrial ash and slag produced from coal-fired power generation, materials that are extensively utilized across Europe but remain largely underused within the country. While European nations have effectively integrated these by-products as secondary raw materials, Serbia capitalizes on only about five percent of its annual output of ash and slag.
In the European Union, ash and slag derived from thermal power plants play a crucial role in the construction sector, particularly in applications such as road construction, concrete manufacturing, and low-carbon cement production. In some regions, demand is so strong that these materials are extracted from old landfills or imported. Conversely, most of Serbia’s ash and slag continues to be deposited at disposal sites, despite an increasing regional interest in these resources.
The bulk of Serbia’s industrial ash and slag originates from coal-fired power plants operated by Elektroprivreda Srbije, which contributes to approximately 80 percent of the country’s total industrial waste. Over the years, disposal sites for this material have expanded considerably, leading to significant environmental concerns and logistical challenges.
Recent initiatives aim to alter this trend. Long-term supply agreements with cement manufacturers are being established to facilitate the reuse of millions of tonnes of fly ash in various industrial applications over the next few years. These efforts are viewed as vital steps towards minimizing landfill volumes, reducing emissions associated with the construction industry, and aligning Serbia with practices observed in the European circular economy.
Experts suggest that a broader and more systematic approach to utilizing ash and slag could yield substantial economic and environmental advantages. This shift could transform a historically overlooked by-product into a valuable industrial asset while simultaneously alleviating waste management costs and pressure on land resources.
