Serbian Protests Erupt Over Controversial Lithium Excavation Project

Thousands of people rallied across Serbian towns protesting a lithium excavation project agreed upon by the Serbian government and the EU, citing environmental concerns. The deal aims to reduce Europe's reliance on China but has drawn significant opposition from local activists. This follows the suspension of a previous project by Rio Tinto.

Thousands of people gathered in several Serbian towns on Monday to protest a contentious lithium excavation project recently endorsed by the Serbian government and the European Union.

Protests occurred simultaneously in the western town of Sabac and the central towns of Kraljevo, Arandjelovac, Ljig, and Barajevo. Similar gatherings have taken place in other Serbian towns in recent weeks.

The agreement, reached earlier this month on 'critical raw materials,' aims to cut Europe's dependence on China and strengthen Serbia's ties to the EU. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attended the Belgrade summit where the deal was finalized.

Despite these goals, the project has faced fierce opposition from environmentalists and political groups in Serbia. Critics argue the project would cause irreversible environmental damage while providing minimal benefits to local residents. The largest lithium reserve in Serbia is located in a fertile and water-rich western valley where Rio Tinto had initiated an exploration project years ago, which was suspended due to significant opposition.

Serbia's constitutional court overturned the government’s prior decision to cancel a USD 2.4 billion mining project by Rio Tinto in the Jadar valley earlier this month, potentially enabling its revival. This decision follows significant protests in 2021 that saw people blocking major roads and bridges, posing the biggest challenge to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic's rule.

While Vucic stated that excavation would not begin before 2028 and assured environmental safeguards, some government officials have suggested a possible referendum on the issue. Protesters Monday reiterated their distrust of the government and vowed to prevent the excavations from proceeding. 'They have usurped our rivers and our forests,' said activist Nebojsa Kovandzic in Kraljevo, where the crowd chanted 'thieves, thieves.'