Source: AFP
President Aleksandar Vucic said Serbia could mine lithium as early as 2028 after new guarantees from Australian mining giant Rio Tinto and the EU over the controversial project, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.
According to Rio Tinto, Jadar in western Serbia has one of Europe’s largest reserves of lithium — a strategically valuable metal vital to the production of electric vehicle batteries.
The deposits were discovered in 2004, but the Serbian government halted the mining project in 2022 after weeks of protests fueled by environmental and public health fears.
Vucic told the Financial Times that the mining giant and the European Union have given “new guarantees” on compliance with environmental standards.
“If we deliver everything, (the mine) can open in 2028,” Vucic said, adding that it would be a game-changer for the country and the entire region.
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/60f392374238f13d.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
![](https://images.yen.com.gh/images/60f392374238f13d.jpg?impolicy=cropped-image&imwidth=256)
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The president said the mine was expected to produce 58,000 tons of lithium a year, which would be equivalent to 17 percent of Europe’s electric vehicle production, or 1.1 million cars.
Opponents have previously accused Rio Tito and Vucic of not being transparent about the process and refusing to release environmental impact reports.
On Thursday, the mining giant published an environmental impact report aimed at allaying concerns and resetting the terms of the debate, with the group promising “safe, reliable and proven technology”.
Rio Tinto denounced “a widespread disinformation campaign based on slanderous evidence” making “baseless claims” that the project would harm water resources, soil, biodiversity, air quality and human health.
In September 2023, Serbia signed a letter of intent with the European Commission for a strategic cooperation in the field of batteries and raw materials.
Source: AFP