Serbia's green activists rally against Rio Tinto lithium project

Antimony Resources

28/06/2024 20:51

LOZNICA, Serbia, June 28 (Reuters) - Scores of people in
western Serbia's town of Loznica rallied on Friday to protest
the contested Rio Tinto  RIO.L  lithium project in the Balkan
country, fearing its development will damage the environment. 
    Regarded as a critical material by the EU and the United
States, lithium is used in batteries for EVs and mobile devices.
    In 2022, the Serbian government revoked licences for Rio
Tinto's $2.4 billion Jadar lithium project near Loznica after
protests by green groups who say the mine will irreversibly
pollute land and water in the lush Jadar valley and the nearby
River Drina. 
    Protesters demanded that parliament adopt a law on a ban of
geological research and exploitation of lithium and borates
within 40 days. 
    "If they fail, on the 41st day we will block Serbia, we will
block key points, railroads ... and that's only the beginning,"
Marijana Petkovic, a green activist told the crowd.     
    Throngs of people from across Serbia, including a group of
about two dozen activists who for three days hiked 80 miles from
the capital Belgrade, waved national flags, chanted "Uprising,"
"Rio Tinto go away from the Drina," and sung patriotic songs.
    Last week, Serbia's President Aleksandar Vucic said Belgrade
is preparing to give Rio Tinto the green light to develop
Europe's largest lithium mine, for which the company said it
would be safe for the environment. 
    "If they open the mine, our children will eat polluted
food," said Milena, a 62-year-old farmer from the nearby village
of Trsic.
    If completed, the Jadar project could supply 90% of Europe's
current lithium needs and help to make the company a leading
lithium producer.
    In 2021 and 2022 Serbian environmentalists collected 30,000
signatures in a petition demanding that parliament enact
legislation to halt lithium exploration in the country.
    To bolster economic growth, Belgrade has offered mineral
resources to other foreign investors including China's Zijin
(601899.SS) copper miner. 

 (Writing by Aleksandar Vasovic, Reporting by Ivana Sekularac;
Editing by Diane Craft)
 ((aleksandar.vasovic@thomsonreuters.com; +381113044904;))