Loznik Chernobyl, that's what the people called the "Viscose" factory, which has a long history in this small town by the Drina. From the driver of economy and development in the 1950s, this industrial block has become a threat to the environment, and in its place the City is planning a residential and business complex
"Chemical Industry of Viscose Loznica" started operating in 1957.
During its working life, in its best days, it employed over 13 workers in 11.000 production plants, which makes "Viscoza" a kind of record holder in the area of Podrinje.
However, like many other factories in the country, "Viscose" did not escape the economic crisis of the 1990s. Declining demand, lack of investment and changes in the economic landscape led to the factory's demise during that period.
In addition to the production of viscose and artificial silk, "Viscose" was also known for other activities. Hotel "Viscoza", part of the factory complex, suffered the same fate as the factory itself, it was demolished in 2017.
After closing in 2005, the factory became a target for looters, with reports of theft of valuable materials such as gold and platinum. Tragedy struck the factory complex in 2008 when a fire broke out, in which one worker lost his life.
Today, out of the entire industrial complex, only the "Viskoza Ambulance" is in operation, under the state administration.
Hope for recovery
"Viscose" is the symbol of Loznica, a building characterized by tall chimneys built by the skillful hands of the widely known Crnotravians.
Today, the possibility of revitalization of this area is mentioned. Locals want the space of the former factory to be turned into a new cultural district, modern office space and even a museum.
What makes "Viscoza" different from other failed industrial giants is that it was the cultural epicenter of the city, around which a special local community was formed.
Within the Gradilište settlement, the factory formed its own workers' cultural and artistic society, a sports club, a magazine, an art colony, and even an orchestra.
The further development of the city was also reflected in the cooperation with the educational system, providing practice in the facilities of the factory complex for students of the newly formed vocational high schools.
Hazardous waste removed
The cleaning of the former industrial block was completed at the beginning of the year.
A total of about 2.500 tons of so-called historical hazardous waste was removed from the devastated pile of ruins on more than seventy hectares between Loznica and Banja Koviljača.
The Ministry of Environmental Protection announced that it was not possible to determine the exact amount because the complex was neglected, overgrown with vegetation and inaccessible, and part of the waste was scattered in front of and in buildings that were "structurally unstable and posed a danger, and certain the amount of active angle was subsequently revealed after the removal of vegetation''.
An unforeseen circumstance in the assessment of the amount of waste was represented by the basins in which there was "liquid waste with the presence of carbon disulfide (CS2), in which there was also a suspended deposition of particles of earth, sand, wood and mixed waste with the presence of elemental sulfur and the content of CS2 in the sludge in a state whose quantity, volume and weight could not be foreseen during the inspection of the site before the removal of the waste''.
Cultural district or business-residential complex
Waste chemicals, hazardous waste hydrocarbons, hazardous construction and wood waste, as well as other hazardous and non-hazardous waste were removed from "Viscose".
The most dangerous substance in "Viscose" was CS2, and after the cessation of work there were about 550 tons of it left in it, the reason for which was found out only after the big fire in December 2008. Then the removal of CS2 from Loznica was actualized and its relocation by special container-tankers by railway started in mid-2010 .but the work is not finished.
In November 2019, it was announced that Viskoza was one of a total of 32 industrial plants in Serbia where pollution was detected and that it was among the first contaminated locations from which hazardous industrial waste was removed.
By the way, while the locals long nostalgically for the cultural district and the renewal of the community that made life in this city authentic, the City states that in the vision of the development of Loznica in the coming years, the construction of a new residential and business complex is foreseen at this location, which should connect Loznica with Banja Koviljača.
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