In the Jadar Valley of western Serbia, recent extreme heat hasn’t deterred farmers from their fields. This region, home to around 18,000 residents, is predominantly inhabited by young families who depend on its fertile land.
However, in the past five years, their lives have been disrupted by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto’s plans to establish a lithium mine in the area.
Veterinarian and farmer Zlatko Kokanovic, whose family has lived here for generations, fears the mine’s impact. He believes that the coexistence of the mine and the community is untenable. “The main processing plant is planned to be just a few hundred meters from our church. There, 4,000 to 5,000 tons of rock material will be crushed daily, treated with 1,000 tons of sulfuric acid, and washed with vast amounts of water, which will then flow into the River Jadar,” Kokanovic told DW.
Strong local opposition
Kokanovic’s home often serves as a base for the “Ne damo Jadar” (We Won’t Give Up Jadar) association, formed by local residents aiming to block the mine’s development.
The group argues that if locals are forced to leave, they will lose their homes and livelihoods, and the mine will ruin the environment. “Cars for Europe, batteries for the Chinese, and landfills, diseases, cancers, and who knows what else for us Serbs. It’s better to mine in Serbia than in Germany or France,” said Dragan Karajcic from the association.
Divided opinions
Debate over the lithium deposits has been intense for five years. Many locals and Serbian citizens view the project as an environmental threat, while others see it as a route to economic prosperity and development. Following widespread protests, the Serbian government decided in 2022 to halt the project. “As far as the Jadar and Rio Tinto project is concerned, everything is finished. It’s over,” declared then-Prime Minister Ana Brnabic.
Government reversal
Earlier this month, Serbia’s Constitutional Court overturned the government’s decision, citing it as “not in accordance with the Constitution or the law.” The government has now opted to move forward with the project.
President Aleksandar Vucic hinted in June that lithium extraction might commence by 2028, pending new assurances from Rio Tinto. “We believe the mine will not endanger anyone or anything,” said Vucic, “But first, we need guarantees from Europe that the environment and citizens’ lives will benefit from new jobs and improved salaries.” Rio Tinto has welcomed the government’s decision, promising adherence to top environmental standards and the creation of thousands of jobs.
EU interest in lithium mining
The European Union has shown consistent interest in Serbia’s lithium reserves. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and European Commission Vice President for Energy Marosh Shevchovich are scheduled to visit Belgrade on July 19 for the “Critical Raw Materials Summit,” where Serbia and the EU will sign a strategic partnership memorandum that includes provisions for lithium mining.
Opposition MP Aleksandar Jovanovic Ćuta decries the situation as “an epic crime against people and nature,” criticizing Scholz as a “little American puppet” and accusing the German chancellor of supporting the displacement of people from Gornje Nedeljice, one of the villages most affected by the Rio Tinto mine.
