According to estimates, the value of lithium (called – among other things by its color – “white gold”) found in the Jadar Valley may be up to 1.3%. all its resources in the world. It was valued at EUR 4 billion, say researchers. Its extraction may, in turn, provide many jobs and support the production of batteries for electric cars. Serbia and the European Union are trying to finalize the agreement on the exploitation of lithium, but completing all the formalities is not that easy.
The European Union wants to cooperate with Serbia on lithium mining
As reported by the Serbian daily “Danas”, negotiations between Serbia and the European Union regarding the extraction of lithium from the Jadar Valley are coming to an end. The daily recalled that on this matter, Vice-President Marosz Shefczovicz met with the President of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic in September 2023. Many significant investments, a common approach and projects were discussed, resulting in a letter of intent between Serbia and the European Union. The EU representative said that “the last legal obstacles” still need to be resolved before cooperation can be established. The problems also include: opposition of Serbian society or issues related to environmental protection.
Current talks with the Serbian government focus on the mining, processing and further use of lithium. – All I can say at this stage is that this is a positive development. Certain legal issues were raised in the past and are currently being discussed, said Marosz Shefczovicz, quoted by “Danas”. As the daily reported, “The EU remains in close contact with the Serbian government and is helping it to ensure that all environmental impact assessments are carried out in accordance with the ‘highest European standards’.”
Serbia. Lithium mining from the Jadar Valley. Opposition from pro-environmental groups.
Let us recall that in January 2022, the Rio Tinto company, which was supposed to engage in mining in the Jadar Valley, had its permits withdrawn after the opposition of pro-ecological groups and the local population – the daily reported. Chad Bluitt, director of Rio Tinto’s Jadar project, said the company will publish a 200-page environmental impact assessment of its operations later this year. Currently, the company is waiting for further decisions regarding lithium mining.
– We have nothing to hide, we know that we will introduce the highest environmental standards – said Bluitt, quoted by one of . The daily noted that “the European Union plans to visibly reduce its current dependence on imports of critical raw materials, especially from China, which is currently the world’s largest exporter.”
In turn, Bojana Novaković, an activist of the Ecological March from Drina, maintains that the current position of the movement is that “it does not want a lithium mine near Loznica, even if Rio Tinto meets EU environmental standards.” In her opinion, “Rio Tinto may meet all the regulations, but it is still a mine and will pollute a place that has clean land, water and air.” The lithium mining project is now likely to be halted and restarted before the upcoming elections in December, analysts from the Economist Intelligence Unit predict.
Source: Gazeta
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