Veles, North Macedonia – 24 September 2025 – The EU-funded FIC-Fighters project is proud to announce the launch of its first citizen dialogue, taking place in Veles under the title “Voices for Change – Exploring Solutions for the Veles Stack.” This interactive workshop marks the beginning of a series of dialogues designed to bring local voices to the forefront of environmental decision-making.

The Veles session will engage local residents and grassroots organisations, in an open exchange about the environmental and social impacts of the phosphogypsum (PG) stacks left as a by-product from the factory for the production of chemical fertilisers, Chemical Industry Veles. The PG site also represents one of the 16 environmental hotspots in North Macedonia.

The Chemical Industry Veles factory, opened in 1979 and closed in 2003, left behind approximately 3.7 million tons of gypsum over 70,000 m², located near the Vardar River. With the equipment and facilities now destroyed, the area remains a pressing environmental challenge, but also a unique opportunity for sustainable waste reduction strategies, alternative product applications, and local economic benefits.

At the heart of FIC-Fighters lies a strong vision: to transform environmental and social challenges into opportunities for sustainable development and community empowerment. The project integrates Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) perspectives into PG stack remediation, with the aim of achieving a circular economy that not only mitigates environmental and health risks but also strengthens cross-border cooperation and local governance models.

FIC-Fighters researchers develop methods for the valorisation of phosphogypsum waste to produce sustainable raw materials for the paper, cement, batteries, fertilisers, and detergent industries. In addition to revalorising phosphogypsum, the project will also make use of residues from the aluminium industry. This will enable one of the project’s chemical routes—based on a patent owned by the partner CapturaCO2, S.L.—to generate new value from two types of residues that are currently only stored. In this way, the project supports the development of a circular economy in major industrial sectors such as detergents, apparel, and cement manufacturing.

Депонија на фосфогипс во близина на Велес и реката Вардар

Why now? The urgency is clear. PG stacks pose significant threats to both the environment and human health. Yet, they also present opportunities for innovation, knowledge-sharing, and sustainable economic development. By engaging local communities directly, the project ensures that solutions are not only scientifically robust but also socially just and reflective of lived experiences.

During the dialogue, participants will:

• Learn about phosphogypsum and the FIC-Fighters project objectives
• Map and prioritize risks and impacts from the community’s perspective
• Contribute to data and knowledge collection, bridging local insights with scientific research
• Co-create strategic proposals and future scenarios for the sustainable management of the Veles site

By empowering citizens and valuing their knowledge, the project sets a precedent for inclusive and forward-looking environmental action in Europe and beyond.

The lead partner in North Macedonia is the Civil Engineering Institute of Macedonia (CEIM), which is organising the event in Veles together with the other project partners. The event is by invitation only; however, if you are interested in attending, please contact CEIM’s representative, Azra Misini (azra.misini@gim.com.mk), to enquire whether additional places are available.

For more information, please visit fic-fighters.eu.

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Contact

IDENER.AI

María González Moya, Project Manager: maria.gonzalez@idener.ai

Andrea Prieto Pabón, Scientific Coordinator: andrea.prieto@idener.ai

European Federation of Geologists

Anita Stein, Project communications: anita.stein@eurogeologists.eu

CEIM

Zlatko Ilijovski, Project manager: geozlatko@gim.mk