LOZNICA (CU)_Mining giant Rio Tinto has been looking to develop a mine near the Serbian city of Loznica, in the western Jadar river valley to extract lithium, which is used in electric car batteries, and borates, which are found in solar panels and wind turbines. The $2.4bn project is part of the Serbian government’s efforts to attract investment and increase economic growth in the European nation. However, the development is now causing a political headache for the ruling coalition, ahead of April elections, as protesters took to the streets and blocked roads, demanding the project be scrapped. As a result, Loznica’s municipal assembly was forced to suspend plans that would allow the operation of the lithium mine. A few weeks ago, the local authorities voted to halt the regional development plan and scrap the land allocation for the project.
Reports have now emerged that Rio-Tinto will put the project on hold and look to engage with local communities top resolve the matter. “We want to call for a public dialogue, to acquaint residents with all aspects of our project,” a report from Beta News quoted CEO of Rio’s Serbian arm, Vesna Prodanovic. “It is extremely difficult in such an intense anti-mining and negative campaign to have a reasonable debate on any topic.”
In early-2021, the Anglo-Australian mining company insisted that the project will meet all domestic and European Union environmental standards, while Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has also repeatedly said that the approval for the development would depend on the findings of an environmental study, which will be followed by a referendum on it. Nevertheless, environmental groups say the multi-billion dollar lithium mine would cause irreparable damage. Commenting on the matter, a spokesperson for Rio Tinto said the miner intends to improve the way it engaged with the community and will “continue to work with a wide group of local and global experts across all aspects of the environmental, social and governance impacts of the Jadar project”.
