Massive protests occur in Serbia over lithium mine dispute

According to reports by AFP and Reuters on August 10 local time, thousands of people took to the streets and gathered in the center of the capital Belgrade that day. Due to "concerns about the pollution of land and water in nearby areas", they demanded the halt of a lithium mining project initiated by Rio Tinto in western Serbia.

Protesters filled the central square, waving Serbian flags and chanting slogans such as "Don't dig" and "Rio Tinto, get out of Serbia". Then a large crowd entered the main railway station in Belgrade. Demonstrators blocked the tracks, causing traffic disruptions. Reuters quoted Serbian government officials as saying that the protest was "politically motivated" and aimed at overthrowing President Vucic and his government.

The day before (August 9), Serbian President Vucic said that he had received information from Russia that someone was brewing large-scale riots and a coup in Serbia. According to the Russian intelligence department, the related activities were actively supported by several Western intelligence departments.

Serbian Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said on August 11 that as many as 27,000 people participated in the protest against lithium mining on August 10, seriously violating the legal order. He also pointed out that the central railway station in Belgrade was once paralyzed and emphasized that all those who committed criminal and illegal acts during the operation would be held accountable.

It is reported that the trigger for the recent protests was the resumption of the lithium mining project in western Serbia, which was previously postponed due to protests from the surrounding people over environmental issues. In 2004, the deposit in the Jadar River area near the town of Loznica in western Serbia was discovered. According to expert assessment, the deposit may contain up to 10% of the world's proven lithium reserves. 

Geologists from Rio Tinto, one of the largest multinational mining and metallurgical companies, discovered the deposit. In July, the company announced plans to invest $2.4 billion to mine the mineral and produce lithium from it.

In November 2021, due to concerns about environmental issues, people in Belgrade held demonstrations to protest Rio Tinto's development of the Jadar lithium mine. Due to protests from environmentalists, the Serbian government has repeatedly stated that the government will only allow Rio Tinto to mine lithium after a referendum. Under pressure, in January 2022, the Serbian government revoked Rio Tinto's mining license, but the protests still persisted.

The deposit is located in the Jadar River area near the town of Loznica in western Serbia essa news

Last month, the Serbian Constitutional Court ruled that the government's order to revoke the mining license granted to Rio Tinto was "unconstitutional and illegal". The Serbian government restored the license for Rio Tinto to develop this largest lithium mine in Europe.

On July 19, Vucic, German Chancellor Scholz and European Commission Executive Vice-President Sefcovic signed a memorandum of understanding in Belgrade, allowing producers from EU member states to obtain raw materials mined in Serbia, including lithium. The agreement aims to reduce the EU's dependence on imports from the United States and Asia. 

According to the agreement, the European automotive industry will obtain the right to use the Jadar lithium mine in western Serbia and entrust Rio Tinto to mine it. Automobile giants such as Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis will have the right of first refusal.

AFP pointed out that lithium is a highly strategic metal needed for electric vehicle batteries and is key to helping the automotive industry shift to green production. This move is considered the first step in developing Serbia's lithium resources. Reuters said that lithium is also a key component of mobile device batteries. If this lithium mining project is implemented, the project will be able to meet 90% of Europe's current lithium demand and make Rio Tinto one of the world's leading lithium producers.

Serbian government officials said that lithium mines will boost the country's economy, but environmentalists believe that the price to pay is too high. Due to concerns about lithium mines polluting water sources and endangering public health, the project remains unpopular and unsupported by the public in Serbia.

It is reported that activists and demonstrators set a deadline for the government, demanding the passage of legislation to permanently ban lithium and boron mining in Serbia, and August 10 was the deadline. The protests that occurred that day were also the latest wave of protests in the country recently.