The Ministry of Agriculture has refuted claims made by Srđan Majstorović, President of the Board of the European Policy Center, who suggested that the area designated for lithium mining under the “Jadar” project is crucial for fruit production and provides one-third of Serbia’s drinking water. The Ministry clarified that the contribution of the Jadar River basin to the country’s overall water supply is minimal.
The Ministry explained that fruit production in the region does not have a significant impact on the national economy and that the planned mining project will not endanger it.
According to Serbia’s water management strategy, the country receives approximately 63.7 billion cubic meters of water annually. Of this, about 16 billion cubic meters flows into watercourses, while the rest returns to the atmosphere through evapotranspiration. The Jadar River basin, covering roughly 958 square kilometers, represents about 15% of the Drina River basin and approximately 1.08% of Serbia’s total territory.
To put this in perspective, the Ministry provided data on the sizes of major river basins in Serbia: the Danube basin covers 81,560 square kilometers, the Sava basin 16,160 square kilometers, the Velika Morava basin 38,260 square kilometers, the Južna Morava basin 15,696 square kilometers, and the Zapadna Morava basin 15,313 square kilometers.
The Ministry also noted that the total water flow of the Drina River basin, which includes the Jadar basin, accounts for about 3.34% of Serbia’s total water flow.
Regarding water use, the amount of water extracted from public water sources in the Mačva District, including the city of Loznica and several municipalities, is 22.85 million cubic meters annually. This figure represents about 3.3% of Serbia’s total water use, excluding Kosovo and Metohija, with the Jadar River basin’s contribution being very small in comparison.
In terms of fruit production, the area around Loznica and neighboring municipalities cultivates fruit on approximately 7,000 hectares, making up about 4% of Serbia’s total fruit-growing area.
The Ministry stressed that while fruit production is present in the region, it is not a major economic driver and does not feature prominently in terms of intensive cultivation or high yields.
The Ministry concluded that the contribution of the Jadar River basin to Serbia’s water supply is not significant and that the planned mining project will not negatively affect fruit production. They urged responsible and accurate reporting of public information to avoid unnecessary public concern and emphasized the need for a serious, fact-based approach to this issue.
Additionally, the Ministry expressed full support for Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić in advancing important development projects that will bolster the economy, enhance GDP growth, and improve living standards for all citizens. They highlighted that strong industry is essential for strong agriculture and that these sectors are mutually compatible.
