In Serbia’s money Belgrade, hundreds of protesters gathered to demand that a contentious lithium mining project be revived, which is expected to be a key component of Europe’s transition to clean energy.
Two well-known opposition leaders claimed prior to the march that security forces had briefly detained them and that they had been warned that any efforts to obstruct roads during the demonstration may be deemed unlawful.
The protesters chanted slogans such as” Rio Tinto get out of Serbia” and” You wo n’t dig” as they marched through the city center. The Interior Ministry afterward estimated the group size to be between 24, 000 and 27, 000 persons.
The demonstrators finally entered Belgrade’s primary railway station, where they blocked lines and disrupted visitors. Ivica Dacic, the attorney general, announced in a statement that the organizers and leaders had been given a warning by the authorities that their actions were against the law, and that all of their perpetrators may face legal action.
A mining task being developed by the Anglo-Australian mine huge Rio Tinto has been a frequent social issue in Serbia because of its potential climate effects. The country has significant lithium deposits close to the northern city of Loznica. The job was halted in 2022 after months of widespread protests, but the payments were discovered in 2004. The federal recently revived the project, though a court decision found that Rio Tinto’s request to rescind its permits was immoral and illegal.
Memorandum of understanding between Serbia’s state and the EU is regarded as the first step in the development of the country’s sodium resources. A deal that would offer exporters from EU member states access to raw materials mined in Serbia, including lithium, was signed on July 19 by President Vucic, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and EU Energy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. The agreement aims to lower the EU’s dependency on American and Asian imports.
Lithium is a highly important metal that is important for the shift toward greener production in the automotive industry. Due to concerns about liquid waste and risks to public health, the venture still has a bad reputation among Serbs.
If the government does n’t pass a law that permanently bans the mining of lithium and boron in Serbia by the August 10 deadline set by activists, protesters have pledged to continue their demonstrations and engage in civil disobedience. Aleksandar Vucic, the president of Serbia, has repeatedly assured that no mine businesses will begin until climate safety standards are established.
If implemented, the$ 2.4 billion Jadar lithium project could meet 90 % of Europe’s current lithium needs and position Rio Tinto as one of the world’s leading lithium producers. Environmentalists contend that the lithium mine would cause too much environmental damage, while the Serbian government thinks it will increase the nation’s economy.
