The project had been paralyzed and has just been resumed, but it has opened an important debate about the environmental impact it may have.
Rio Tintothe company behind the plan to build the largest lithium mine in Europe in Serbiais making new efforts to resume the project.
The Serbian Government paralyzed the Jadar mining project in 2022 following a series of massive protestss. Recently, Rio Tinto has published a environmental study in which he states that the project will little harmful impact on the environment.
Marijanti Babic, Rio Tinto representative in Serbia, stated: “The publication of these plans does not mean that Jadar’s project will continue. “If carried out, the studies will be presented in the legally established procedure, which involves a public debate.”
The mineral will be extracted at a depth of 370 to 650 meters. The mine is expected to produce 58,000 tons of lithium per year. Two years ago, the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts announced that the realization of the Jadar project would devastating effects on the environment.
Velimir Radmilovic, spokesperson for the Serbian Academy of Sciences and Arts, has assured that “the realization of the Jadar project will cause a massive devastation of natural spacepermanent changes in the character of the landscape, the biodiversity degradation of land, forests, surface and underground waters, the displacement of the local population”.
A public debate on environmental impact
With the publication of a draft, Rio Tinto says it wants to start a public debate on environmental impact. Prime Minister Milos Vucevic does not anticipate the future movements of his cabinet, but emphasizes that Lithium could be a serious advantage for Serbia.
Vucevic believes “it is possible develop the economy and preserve the ecology, the environment and people. I think Serbia’s strategic advantage lies in mines and minerals.”
