Ugljevik

Ugljevik is a town and municipality in Republika Srpska, Bosnia and Herzegovina. As of 2013, the municipality has a population of 15,710 inhabitants, while the town of Ugljevik has a population of 4,155 inhabitants. The municipality is located in the countryside of the eastern foothills of Mount Majevica, where the mountains start descending towards the flatlands of Semberija, to which it is tied to more than any other surrounding area. It is the home of miners and other energy resource professionals.

Ugljevik is named after coal (ugalj), which first began to be exploited on Mount Majevica in 1899.

Coal production has been exploited on Mount Majevica since 1899. Within a century, the local inhabitants made the initial small dig of today’s surface mine producing 6,000 tonnes of coal per day and the coal fired power plant “Termoelektrana Ugljevik” (Ugljevik Power Plant), supplying the Republic with 300 megawatts of electricity. Preparations are underway for the construction of another power plant of 600 MW. Exploration indicates huge reserves of quality coal, with seams stretching in every direction, even reaching Zvornik on the Drina river. The administrative center of the municipality was the village of Zabrđe, only for it to be moved to the mining community of Ugljevik (now named Stari Ugljevik (Old Ugljevik)) in 1941, after Zabrđe was burned by the Ustaše. The present day Ugljevik began to be built in 1980 in the valley of the Janja river (one of the Drina’s tributaries) between Zabrđe, Stari Ugljevik, Bogutovo Selo and Ugljevička Obrijez, in response to the need for increasing the surface mining operations and building a power plant. At least ten archaeological locations have been found in the area. These include five locations with groupings of medieval stone sarcophagi, called stećci, and three dating from the Roman period. Though research into the Neolithic sites in the municipality is lacking, nearby areas have Neolithic archaeological sites, allowing postulation that there might have been ancient sites present. The village of Tutnjevac contains the remains of a Roman villa. The first population census of the region showed five settlements with a total of 55 houses, which date from prior to arrival of the Ottoman Turks in the 15th century. During troubled times the population would leave these parts with most of the succeeding population—the forebears of the present Majevicans—coming from Eastern and ‘Old’ Herzegovina in the 19th century. During the past hundred years, the pace and extent of development of the Ugljevik region has been determined by coal production. With the increased need for coal, coal exploitation began in 1899, and a narrow gauge railway was built from Rača, on the Sava river, to the Ugljevik coal mine via Bijeljina in 1919. Subsequently, this railway was upgraded to a normal narrow gauge, and later was connected to one of Ugljevik’s communities, Mezgraja, in 1938. This was the last narrow gauge railway in Europe before it was closed on May 26, 1979. The coal from Bogutovo Selo surface mine has a calorific value of 2,550 kcal/kg (10.68 MJ/kg), and it is estimated that the reserves are sufficient to satisfy the needs of four 300 megawatt coal fired power plants. It is thanks to these coal giants that almost all of Ugljevik’s corporations have developed. After the Bosnian War Ugljevik became a significant peacekeeping force post. For the first time after the World War II, the Russian Army and Western Allies worked together in a military mission, as the Implementation Force (IFOR) and later the Stabilization Forces (SFOR). Headquarters of the Russian Peacekeeping Mission in Bosnia was in Ugljevik. Americans had a small base in Ugljevik, across the Janja river from the Russians. In relation to this, the IFOR info magazine “Talon” wrote in one of its articles “Cold War melted on the Balkan sun”.

The Municipality of Ugljevik borders Bijeljina to the East and North, Lopare to the West, Zvornik to the South, and also bordering Teočak in the FBiH to the South. The 1993 population census indicated a population of 16,456 residing in 4,733 households, covering The population density is 12.44/km², this being the result of the dispersed nature of the communities. Ugljevik is located on the inter Entity Bijeljina Tuzla highway — built in 1971 — which connects it to all the surrounding regions, with asphalt roads branching off the highway towards Zabrđe, Trnova and other communities. It is now possible to reach every village in the Ugljevik municipality by car. This, coupled with other circumstances —primarily the fine infrastructure, employment opportunities, healthy environment and proximity to populous towns — contribute to the municipality developing quickly and the residents choice to remain in them. Despite the destructions in the recent war and the post war hardships in recovery, new houses are replacing old ones at every step.

Population of the settlements – Ugljevik municipalitySettlement1971.1981.1991.2013. Total24,17824,54017,83015,7101Atmačići5664292Bogutovo Selo4992943Donja Trnova1,4911,1544Glinje6484615Gornja Trnova4202846Janjari6514977Korenita8405578Maleševci6024049Mezgraja71445910Mukat Stankovići45833011Ravno Polje46659812Srednja Trnova72157913Stari Ugljevik1,12670714Tutnjevac1,4891,04215Ugljevička Obrijež93494516Ugljevik2,3882,4422,9814,15517Ugljevik Selo69347818Zabrđe1,7251,551

Ethnic composition – Ugljevik town1991.1981.1971. Total2,9812,4422,388Serbs2,426 (81.4%)2,210 (90.5%)2,256 (94.5%)Bosniaks348 (11.7%)66 (2.7%)86 (3.6%)Yugoslavs133 (4.5%)143 (5.9%)15 (0.6%)Croats39 (1.3%)3 (0.1%)15 (0.6%)Others/unspecified35 (1.2%)16 (0.7%)5 (0.2%)Macedonians4 (0.2%)6 (0.3%)Montenegrins4 (0.2%)Albanians1 (<0.1%)
Ethnic composition – Ugljevik municipality2013.1991.1981.1971. Total15,71025,58724,54024,178Serbs13,412 (85.4%)14,468 (56.5%)14,066 (57.3%)14,816 (61.2%)Bosniaks2,186 (14%)10,241 (40%)9,403 (38.3%)8,859 (36.7%)Others/unspecified70 (0.5%)532 (2%)81 (0.3%)58 (0.2%)Croats42 (0.3%)56 (0.2%)17 (<0.1%)53 (0.2%)Yugoslavs290 (1.1%)573 (2.3%)35 (0.1%)Roma376 (1.5%)328 (1.4%)Montenegrins9 (<0.1%)13 (<0.1%)Macedonians7 (<0.1%)12 (<0.1%)Albanians4 (<0.1%)3 (<0.1%)Slovenes3 (<0.1%)Hungarians1 (<0.1%)1 (<0.1%)

Culture in these parts is gaining momentum. Numerous cultural events are presented at the Cultural Center. The Cultural Club Rudar was founded in 1976 and is made up of: the folk dance ensemble, the drama and recitation section, original (authentic) creative work, the folk music orchestra. With its good programme the club takes part in all important manifestations in the municipality, including economic collectives, and they have often had their performances in other municipalities. The building of the "Filip Višnjić" Cultural Center was opened in 2006, and it is a replica of the Mining Head Office („Direkcija“ building) in Stari Ugljevik. The original building was built in 1921, but due to the removal of Ugljevik at the new location it was abandoned. The new building is a center of rich cultural life in the municipality and region.

Education has a long tradition in the municipality of Ugljevik. An elementary school was founded in Zabrđe in 1875. The town was at the time the largest settlement in this part of Majevica, since it was located on the Bijeljina Tuzla road. In the year of 1995 the town marked the 120th anniversary of its school, making Zabrđe, one of the most privileged communities of Majevica and Semberija to have their own school for quite some time. The second school to open in these parts began teaching lessons in 1890 in Korenita. It was followed two years later by the opening of a school in Ugljevik. After the Second World War, village schools appeared in other Ugljevik communities — Tutnjevac, Maleševci, Trnova, Mezgraja, Bogutovo Selo, Ugljevička Obrijez and other communities. All school aged children attend classes. School buildings are modern and well equipped, with an adequate number of teachers ensuring a high standard of education. Two thousand pupils attend Ugljevik municipality schools each year. Ugljevik also has a secondary school, training future energy technicians, covering the trades needed most by the Ugljevik Termoelektrana (Power Plant). Despite a number of Ugljevik students attending secondary schools in Bijeljina, and vice versa, Ugljevik still has 600 high school students.

The Ugljevik region includes the now evaporated Pannonian Sea. It had once reached New Ugljevik, its waves cutting into the mountainside above the school complex where fossilised traces of aquatic flora and fauna are visible. Above Old Ugljevik lie the Medieval remains of the fortress Jablangrad. From its cliffs, reaching up to above sea level, the flatlands of Semberija can be seen, while beyond, across the Drina, are discernible Mačva and Mount Cer. Udrigovo Peak, where a radio TV relay tower was built after the war, rises above the Ugljevik region. Udrigovo is known for its thick oak stands. Majevica's hills have a number of forests, with the black oak being well known in Udrigovo. Plans are being made to protect the forests and natural environment of the region and the Nature Reserves in Bogutovo Selo and Lazarevići, while maintaining lumber production. These are also the conditions necessary for the development of recreational and other forms of tourism in the region. This should be kept in mind when planning to expand surface coal exploitation or build new roads. The forests of sessile oak, black oak and other varieties can be found at Bogutovo Selo, Korenita and Lazarević, as well as elsewhere.

The village of Krćina, towards of Zvornik, has great potential for the development of village tourism, it being located in natural surroundings and possessing a cave nearby, known by the local population as the cave of the epic hero Starina Novak. Nearby is the Tavna Monastery, dating back to the Middle Ages. The village is accessible from Podrinje, Loznica, Jadar, Rađevina, Zvornik and Bijeljina. The road is partly unpaved, and once fully asphalted it will be the shortest way to reach Ugljevik and Majevica from Podrinje. In the valley of the little river Domana there is another cave, the Šuplja Pećina, while in the cliff on Baljak hill is Kurtina Pećina.

Sports and fitness culture are on the rise in Ugljevik. The pride of these areas is the Football Club Rudar, which has won the most important trophies and titles in Republika Srpska and spread the name of Ugljevik throughout the Republic. The club is a wellspring of talented players, and its successes have inspired the development of soccer in neighbouring municipalities as well. Village soccer clubs and school soccer teams have increased and improved their programmes as well. Basketball and other sports are on the rise. Great attention is being paid to the construction of sports facilities — soccer stadiums, swimming pools, universal gyms —while minor sports facilities are available for the youth in the vicinity of elementary and secondary schools. The Rudar Karate Club is a young sports club, but this does not prevent it from achieving high results in numerous domestic and international karate competitions. Initially beginning with county and regional competitions, it has progressed to the world karate scene, which has been extremely high quality in recent years. The Rudar Basketball Club was founded in 1984 and belongs to the First League of Republika Srpska. The club stopped operating in 1989, only to recontinue in 1994 with great strides towards the Republic’s basketball elite. Rudar is also the name of a chess club, which, through its competitions and work at popularising this ancient game, proudly represents the name of Rudar. Volleyball, judo and bowling are also represented in Rudar sport’s family. There are additionally nine soccer clubs in the various villages: Partizan in Donja Trnova, Mladost in Bogutovo Selo, Budućnost in Ravno Polje, Strijelac in Tutnjevac, Proleter in Ugljevik Selo, Borac in Ugljevička Obrijez, Majevica in Donja Zabrfmđe, Hajduk in Mezgraja and Graničar in Korenita.