"The Jadar Project, Serbia: history, context and concerns" March 2025

'In 2001, the British-Australian mining corporation Rio Tinto established a subsidiary company in Serbia, Rio Sava Exploration Ltd., which was licensed to conduct geological research and mining activities.' (...)

'While the Project of jadarite extraction was strongly and openly backed by the ruling majority on the one hand, strong opposition grew among concerned citizens, the scientific community, opposition politicians, civil society, and environmental activists on the other.' (...)

'As local citizens were concerned about the possible negative impact on health and the environment, Rio Tinto's announcement that the mine was planned to begin operations in 2022 led to a first massive protest in April 2021, where people demanded that the state protect the environment and public health; discontent and concern spread among citizens of all of Serbia. In September, more protests followed. At that time, without proper public discussion, the Government of Serbia proposed amendments to the Law on Expropriation to facilitate land expropriation not solely in the public, but also in the private interest, which would essentially benefit private companies.' (...)

'The developments described above led to numerous protests in roughly 48 cities and towns across the country in the period from 23 July 2024 until 10 August 2024. The largest protest took place in Belgrade, the capital city of Serbia, on 10 August 2024, where tens of thousands of citizens rallied against lithium mining, emphasising health and environmental risks and calling for a ban of the research and exploitation of lithium and boron in Serbia. Following this mass protest, arrests and criminal charges ensued against dozens of activists who are advocating for a ban on lithium mining. The tension in the country increased and polarisation grew between those advocating for the Project and those opposing it. Once again, an even stronger media campaign against the activists described them as «terrorists» and «enemies of the state»' (...)

Concerns regarding the implementation of the project include: lack of trust due to Rio Tinto's record, environmental concerns, weak governance, spatial planning, and questionable benefits for the Serbian economy and citizens.