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Serbia: Protests over vast Rio Tinto lithium mining project

August 11, 2024

Thousands took to Belgrade's streets to demand a halt to a huge lithium mining project in western Serbia. The EU-supported deal seeks to source a core resource at scale, but environmentalists say the costs are too high.

https://p.dw.com/p/4jKme
Tens of thousands gather as they protest against the government's campaign to re-actualise and support the Anglo-Australian company Rio Tinto's plan to open a lithium mine in the country in Belgrade on August 10, 2024.
The massive mining project has long been controversial in SerbiaImage: Marko Djokovic/AFP/Getty Images

Tens of thousands demonstrated at key sites in central Belgrade on Saturday evening, calling for an end to a planned lithium mining project in western Serbia, saying it could pollute nearby agricultural land and water. 

The vast project involving British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has EU support and aims to drastically reduce Europe's shortfalls in local sources for the mineral. Lithium is crucial for making things like electric car and smartphone batteries.

Protesters waved Serbian flags and chanted slogans like, "You will not dig" and "Rio Tinto leave Serbia!"

Lithium mine project in Serbia triggers mass protests

Government accuses protesters of ulterior motive

The government of President Aleksandar Vucic said the protests were politically motivated, designed to topple Vucic. It had claimed the previous day, albeit providing few details, that it had received a warning from Russia about plans for a coup. 

"Our rally today is ecological and has no political ambitions, but the government has accused us of seeking to stage a coup," actor Svetlana Bojkovic said at the demonstration.

Zlatko Kokanovic, a protest leader and farmer from the Jadar region in western Serbia where the mine is planned, called on demonstrators to block two major train stations in the city. 

People hold a giant flag as they block the Centre Railway Station during a protest against Rio Tinto's lithium mining project, in Belgrade, Serbia, August 10, 2024.
The protesters temporarily interrupted services at Belgrade's central train stationImage: Djordje Kojadinovic/REUTERS

Vucic controversially reinstated Rio Tinto's license to pursue what would be Europe's largest lithium mine last month, after Serbia's previous government had canceled the plans. 

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was part of a European delegation that traveled to Belgrade to welcome the relaunch and seek access to the spoils.

Europe currently imports most of its lithium from the United States and Asia.

Serbia is seeking EU membership but also has several high hurdles in front of it still, not least its relationship with Kosovo.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, center, poses with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, center left, and European Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic, center right, at the Serbia Palace in Belgrade, Serbia, Friday, July 19, 2024.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was in Serbia last month with European leaders seeking a deal for EU members to buy the project's lithium, a key resource for modern technologies that Europe currently imports en masseImage: Darko Vojinovic/AP Photo/picture alliance

Protesters' deadline to put plans back on ice expired

Protesters in Serbia had given the government a deadline to call the mining project off again, which expired on Saturday, hence the mobilization. 

If implemented as planned, it's estimated that the $2.4 billion (roughly €2.2 billion) Jadar mine could cover 90% of Europe's current lithium needs and make Rio Tinto one of the world's largest lithium producers. 

The company and the Serbian government say the highest environmental standards will be upheld in the lush agricultural region, but this has not convinced opponents.

Collapsed and abandoned houses in the village of Gornje Nedeljice that the company Rio Tinto bought from the locals. Image from June 2024.
Rio Tinto has bought out entire villages like Gornje Nedeljice pictured here to make room for the ventureImage: Jelena Djukic Pejic/DW

While the mineral is crucial to making things like electric cars, allowing for personal transportation without any carbon dioxide emissions at the point of use, the other environmental costs of mining it can be high. 

Skepticism in Serbia amid lithium-extraction deal with EU

msh/sms (AFP, Reuters)