Serbia reignites lithium mining project amidst public outcry
Authorities in Belgrade reported that the Serbian government reinstated the possibility of lithium exploitation in the western part of the country on Tuesday. This decision sparked massive opposition. Opposition MP Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta stated that the government has declared war on its people.
According to the report, the government took action to restore the legal order before the adoption of provisions recently deemed unconstitutional. Belgrade reinstated the regulation regarding the spatial plan for the lithium extraction project in the Jadar Valley west of the country.
Last Thursday, the Constitutional Court of Serbia ruled that the government's 2022 decision to halt the Jadar project was unconstitutional. Serbian authorities adopted it in response to massive protests against the launch of the lithium mine.
The Constitutional Court determined that the government exceeded its powers in 2022 by issuing a regulation that was inconsistent with the constitution.
The lithium extraction plan re-emerged in Serbia's public debate a few weeks ago. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and other officials have repeatedly emphasized that the project represents a great economic opportunity for the country.
However, activists and some members of society oppose the extraction, citing potential negative environmental impacts.
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Tuesday's decision was commented on by, among others, opposition MP Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta. He called all citizens to prepare for general mobilization and to defend the Jadar Valley together.
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.
Lithium and its compounds are used, among other things, in the production of heat-resistant glass and ceramics, durable alloys used in aviation, lithium cells, and lithium-ion batteries.
Geologists estimate that the Jadar Valley might contain the largest reserves of the resource in Europe. Researchers from the Economist Intelligence Unit noted that lithium extraction could be extremely profitable for Serbia.
The country holds 1.3% of the world's known metal reserves. The estimated value of Serbian lithium is around CAD 5.5 billion, and its extraction over ten years could provide hundreds of jobs and a steady income stream for the government, analysts emphasized.
