Local authorities in western Serbia suspended a plan Allow mining company Rio Tinto Operating a lithium mineAfter environmentalist protests shook the country’s populist leadership.
Mining is expected to begin in the near future, but a town council in Loznica voted to suspend a regional development plan that allows lithium mining. Last week, the Serbian Parliament suspended voting on two key laws, which ecologists say will help the multinational company start the project.
Thousands of protesters in Belgrade and other parts of Serbia for three consecutive weekends Main roads and bridges are blocked Oppose Rio Tinto’s plan to launch a US$2.4 billion (£1.4 billion) mining business in the country. The protests are the biggest challenge to the increasingly authoritarian rule of Serbian President Alexander Vucic.
“Whether there is a mine depends on people [in western Serbia] And research on environmental impact assessment,” Prime Minister Ana Brnabić said. “These are the two conditions the President said before. “
Rio Tinto said in a statement on Thursday that during its 10 years in Serbia, it has worked in accordance with the law and the highest professional standards to initiate “the largest mining investment in this region of the world.”
“We understand citizens’ interest in all things related to this project, and we will continue to provide information on all aspects of the project we are responsible for and participating in,” the statement said, according to the independent Beta News Agency.
Although Rio Tinto said it would comply with all the latest environmental standards, the organizers of the weekend protests said that lithium mining may cause lasting ecological damage to rivers and farmland in the area.
Now that the lithium mine plan is shelved, Vučić said earlier this week that from now on, “we will have to talk to Rio Tinto and other companies in a different way.”
As the world shifts to more renewable energy sources, lithium used in electric vehicle batteries is considered one of the most popular metals in the future.
As Serbia Facing a power shortage, Vucic ignored the EU’s request for countries to reduce carbon dioxide emissions2 And promised to continue or even expand coal mining in power plants.
Environmentalists are disturbed by the Serbian government’s lack of response to the country’s growing pollution.
