Serbia reignites lithium mine debate despite constitutional ruling
According to a statement from Serbian authorities on Tuesday, the Serbian government has reinstated the possibility of lithium exploitation in the western part of the country. The opposition accused the government of "declaring war on the people" and suggested protests against the opening of the mine.
The government "took actions to restore the legal order that existed before the adoption of the regulations recently deemed unconstitutional," the statement said. Belgrade reinstated the regulation regarding the spatial plan for the lithium mining project in the Jadar Valley west of the country.
Last Thursday, the Constitutional Court of Serbia ruled the government's 2022 decision to halt the Jadar project unconstitutional. Serbian authorities had adopted it in response to massive protests against the opening of the lithium mine.
The Constitutional Court stated that the government had overstepped its authority in 2022 by unconstitutionally issuing the regulation.
The lithium mining plan re-entered public debate in Serbia a few weeks ago. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and other officials have repeatedly emphasized that the project represents a significant economic opportunity for the country.
However, activists and some public oppose the mining, citing potential negative environmental impacts.
A war against its own people
Opposition parliamentarian Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta commented on Tuesday's authorities' decision and urged all citizens to prepare for a general mobilization to defend the Jadar Valley.
Savo Manojlović, leader of the Kreni-Promeni movement, said that by making this decision, the government takes responsibility for any potential unrest and social conflicts.
White gold
Lithium and its compounds are used, among other things, to produce glass and refractory ceramics, durable alloys used in aviation, lithium cells, and lithium-ion batteries.
Geologists estimate that the Jadar Valley may hold the largest lithium reserves in Europe. Researchers from the Economist Intelligence Unit noted that lithium mining could be incredibly lucrative for Serbia.
The country holds 1.3% of the world's known metal reserves. The estimated value of Serbian lithium is around CAD$5.7 billion, and its extraction over ten years could provide hundreds of jobs and a steady stream of revenue for the government," the analysts emphasized.
