The renewed discussion around the “Jadar” project has caused a stir among the public in Serbia, leading to mixed feelings and confusion about the necessity of lithium extraction. A key concern for many is whether tap water will remain safe to drink and if the project will pose a threat to the Drina and Sava rivers.
Last week, “Rio Tinto” released drafts of environmental impact assessment studies for the “Jadar” project, asserting that industry and nature can coexist. These drafts are part of the project’s technical documentation, demonstrating the potential environmental impacts. Professor Dr. Aleksandar Jovović from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering in Belgrade explained in an interview with “Politika” that numerous analyses, models, calculations, and experiments have been conducted. The conclusion drawn is that the project can be safely executed in line with Serbian and EU laws and standards. Although these drafts are not final, and further analysis and input from authorities and the public are necessary, they are comprehensive enough to outline potential impacts accurately.
According to the studies, there is no risk to the water supply since the primary sources for the project’s water needs would be underground mine water and rainwater. Water from the Drina’s riverbank, rather than its main flow, might be used as needed, but this is not water intended for drinking. Additionally, even at peak withdrawal, the amount taken would be just 0.007% of the Drina’s total flow, making it insignificant to the river and its other users. The studies conclude that the “Jadar” project will not pollute river systems including the Jadar, Drina, Sava, and Danube. Special care has been taken regarding wastewater treatment facilities, which will employ technologies such as ultrafiltration, reserve osmosis, and ion exchange.
There has been much discussion about the use of sulfuric acid in the project. It will be used exclusively in sealed containers at temperatures well below its boiling point, with no emissions detected in laboratory tests. Should emissions occur, gases will be cleaned using wet scrubbers before being released into the atmosphere. Calculations and models indicate that the processing plant’s impact on the surrounding air will be minimal. Handling of sulfuric acid is designed to meet stringent international safety standards.
Dr. Jovović emphasized the importance of involving NGOs, universities, engineering firms, and the broader public in the ongoing discussion to further refine the project and position Serbia as a leader in responsible resource extraction. He noted that negative campaigns against the project have harmed the scientific community in Serbia, as evidenced by the return of a facility to Australia that could have trained Serbian students and researchers.
The environmental impact assessment for the “Jadar” project is one of the most comprehensive and detailed ever conducted in Serbia. The process began with identifying missing data, followed by analyses, calculations, and modeling. The studies evaluated technical solutions and proposed additional measures. The involvement of leading institutions such as the University of Belgrade underscores the project’s significance and the importance of having such a project entrusted to top national institutions.
Dr. Jovović responded to concerns about changing project solutions over time by explaining that it is standard practice for long-term projects to evolve and improve based on calculations and analyses. For instance, initial plans for liquid waste disposal were replaced with dry filter cakes to enhance landfill stability and reduce dust emissions and the risk of groundwater contamination. This solution was further improved to allow up to 50% of the waste to be used for backfilling underground tunnels, halving the landfill’s footprint.
Regarding public skepticism about the objectivity of the studies, Dr. Jovović noted that although “Rio Tinto” funded the studies, this is a common practice required by EU regulations and logical for ensuring the safety of the proposed solutions. Independent bodies will evaluate the project, with state commissions reviewing it and public technical committees assessing the impact studies. Similar processes were followed for the construction of the Ada Bridge in Belgrade, where the city formed a commission of experts to evaluate the studies.
