In July 2024, a joint press conference took place at the Palace of Serbia, featuring German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič, and Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić. The topic of the conference was lithium, particularly the controversial Jadar lithium mine project in western Serbia, which has sparked significant opposition.
Scholz’s visit followed renewed talks about the Jadar project after protests had temporarily stalled the project. The Jadar project, led by the mining company Rio Tinto, is of particular interest to both Germany and the European Union. Germany, as the largest producer of electric cars in the EU, is keen on securing lithium, an essential component for electric vehicle batteries. The EU also wants to reduce dependence on China, a leading global lithium producer.
However, the project faces strong resistance in Serbia, with large-scale protests against the mining operations, making it a hotly debated issue.
During the press conference, Vučić stated that lithium is a significant opportunity for Serbia and that the country would not miss the chance to exploit it. He assured that the mining would only proceed if there were full protection for both human life and nature.
Documents obtained by the Center for Investigative Journalism (CINS) suggest that the conditions for environmental protection were manipulated to favor the project. These conditions, issued by the Institute for Nature Protection of Serbia, were approved despite opposition from environmental experts within the institution, who warned that the proposed conditions would not adequately protect the area’s biodiversity and natural habitats.
The controversy began when Rio Sava Exploration, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, requested conditions for nature protection regarding the Jadar project. A portion of the experts at the Institute initially opposed the conditions, arguing that they would not prevent irreversible environmental damage. Despite this, the director of the Institute, Marina Šibalić, issued the conditions, which experts criticized for lacking key safeguards for wildlife protection.
Key professionals in the Institute, including biologists and specialists in biodiversity, expressed concerns that critical aspects related to endangered species and biodiversity were not included in the final document. Despite their objections, Šibalić proceeded with the approval.
In the following months, the Institute attempted to hide parts of the documentation from the public, including official notes from senior officials that detailed the internal opposition to the approval of these conditions.
In their official notes, experts from the Institute questioned the transparency and legality of the process, highlighting that the document was prepared and issued without proper consultation with all relevant departments within the Institute. These revelations have fueled further criticism of the handling of the Jadar project, with some calling the decision-making process politically motivated.
The controversy surrounding the Jadar lithium mine project remains a significant issue in Serbia, balancing economic interests with environmental and social concerns.
