With the rising demand for electric vehicles and, hence, lithium batteries, global demand for lithium is skyrocketing, and Europe is no exception. Though this may be common knowledge, what you might not know is that Serbia is second only to Portugal in Europe’s amount of natural lithium reserves (from hard rock sources), followed by Finland and Spain. Germany comes fifth with significant lithium resources (particularly in the form of brine deposits). As the only non-EU country with one of the largest lithium reserves in Europe, many have argued that Serbia was chosen to be sacrificed for the benefits of the EU battery production/electric vehicles industry. 

The EU’s primary reason for wanting Serbian lithium is tightly related to its determination to decrease its dependence on Chinese lithium, compete with rising Chinese electric vehicle manufacturers, and make sure the EU can reach its own time-sensitive goals of the European Green Deal by 2030 and 2055. The biggest pressure for mining comes from the electric automobile industry in Western Europe, especially Germany as the leading automotive manufacturer.

Lithium and Serbia: The New Gold and the Gold-Keeper

Serbia is a country of incredible natural beauties, rich agriculture, and friendly and passionate people, known for their hospitality. Whenever foreigners visit Serbia, they leave with amazing memories, already planning and looking forward to their next visit. 

Serbia is also one of the poorest countries in Europe, where the food prices have reached 96% of the EU’s average, one of the highest in Central and Eastern Europe, while salaries remain at 30-50% to that of EU standards. An average Serbian citizen barely makes ends meet each month, similar to Bulgarians or Romanians. 

Project “Jadar” (pronounced Yadar) is a proposed lithium mining development by an Australian mining company Rio Tinto in western Serbia, aiming to exploit one of the largest lithium deposits in the world. The project is centered around extracting jadarite, a lithium-rich mineral, to support Europe’s demand for electric vehicle batteries. While the project promises some economic benefits, it has sparked significant opposition due to concerns over its environmental impact, particularly regarding water pollution and land degradation in the region.

Why Not Mine Lithium in Germany if They Need It the Most?

Germany’s Ministry for Economic Affairs State Secretary, Franziska Brantner, addressed the question outright. She emphasized that the country will not permit lithium mining unless advanced technology is available that ensures the retention of water supplies and the protection of land quality. However, this technology is currently lacking in other countries where lithium mining is already taking place. Germany has so far predominantly sourced lithium from mines in Australia and Chile. 

Furthermore, China and other countries maintain a monopoly on the processing of raw materials, which Franciska Bratner considers unacceptable and has emphasized the necessity of establishing mining facilities in Europe to reduce dependence on external sources. 

Introducing the Critical Raw Materials Act

To reply to the EU’s perceived over-reliance on external lithium supply, the EU introduced the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA). The bill is designed to secure a stable and sustainable supply of critical raw materials, essential for industries like renewable energy, digital technology, aerospace, and defense. The Act crucially assists Europe in meeting its 2030 climate and digital transition goals.

Still, many scientists and countries have voiced opposition to the Act, such as for environmental impact, community displacement, global economic concerns, and sustainability issues. Such concerns have exemplified the broader tension between the EU’s goal to secure a steady supply of critical raw materials and the socio-environmental implications of the legislation.

Shortly after a public petition amassed over 60,000 signatures opposing the EU’s Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA), more than 130 organizations and over 100 experts and academics from 30 countries submitted an open letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging the legislation’s withdrawal.

The signatories criticized the proposed law for neglecting environmental and human rights concerns, promoting social engineering, and failing to reform Europe’s outdated mining regulations or tackle the urgent need to reduce demand. If passed, the CRMA would streamline permitting, weaken environmental safeguards, and channel billions into mining companies with questionable social and environmental practices.

The “Jadar” project  is being pushed by the officials from the US, UK, and EU, especially Germany. The Serbian opposition is worried because Germany cannot guarantee compliance with Serbian laws. As reported, Brantner stated that the question isn’t whether lithium in Serbia would be mined or not, but who would do it. 

Controversies Regarding Rio Tinto

“What’s problematic are the environmental consequences to the country, as well as the involvement of Rio Tinto, a company with a history of collaboration with the Franco regime and corrupt governments, known for instigating a civil war in Papua New Guinea. Rio Tinto had to pay 15 million dollars in 2023 for their involvement in corruption in African Guinea. The residents of Papua New Guinea are currently suing the company for their water which is still toxic. So, Rio Tinto is a company with a track record of corruption, devastation, land destruction and water toxification.”, says Bojana Novaković, an Australian actress with Serbian origin and environmental activist (Marš sa Drine/Get off the Drina).

Reminiscing her first few weeks in the Serbian village of Nedeljice in 2021, where Rio Tinto is set to mine lithium, Novaković said that “Rio Tinto is conducting social warfare in a village that is already green and has no need for “green transition”. They have private armed security looking after the ruins of the few houses that they bought. On one side of the street are ruins, on the other a forest, a fountain, and a spring. You wash your face. There is a small church. A school with 200 kids. On their way to school the kids ask the parents: “Is there a war here? Is there a new war starting?” And the answer is “Yes.” But it’s not the type of war they’re thinking of. Money is doing this. The corporate protocol of occupation which has been going on for ten years has infiltrated the lives of the local population. The company employs locals, goes to their family gatherings, donates to the football club, to the school. It’s peacefully infiltrating this heaven on Earth and it will slowly destroy it for profit. And in the name of “green” transition.”

“There are a lot of examples from abroad of how Rio Tinto makes a catastrophic landscape and violates human rights where it operates,” said Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta, an environmental activist (Eko Straža/Eco Watch). “The most recent case is the demolition of the Aboriginal sacred site, which had evidence of 46,000 years of continuous human occupation and was considered the only inland prehistoric site in Australia.”

Rio Tinto is facing a potential lawsuit in England from the UK law firm Leigh Day, representing villagers near a mine in Madagascar. In their letter of claim, the villagers accuse the company of polluting local waterways and lakes with harmful levels of uranium and lead, posing serious health risks to the community.

As stated by the activists, their plan is to extract lithium from one of the most fertile, water-abundant, and densely populated rural regions in Serbia and the Balkans, in a country already grappling with institutional and economic challenges, in the name of the green transition. This endeavor would severely impact the nation’s agricultural land and business/export opportunities, while also depleting vital water resources. The surrounding towns and villages would face devastation, forcing residents to abandon family homes that, in many cases, have been passed down through generations.

Balkan Green Energy News made a full overview of the “Jadar” project timeline, calling it “the most controversial investment in Serbia’s recent history”. So, to what extent can we regard Rio Tinto as an (un)sustainable company?

Relevant Institutions Urge the Government To Stop the Mining

Lithium in Serbia is in the form of the lithium mineral Jadarit (named after the Jadar Valley), a rare mineral only found in Serbia. What’s specific about Jadarit is that in order to extract its lithium, tons of sulfuric acid and enormous quantities of water are required. Just from the initial drilling, serious damages to the environment have been documented and examined by competent authorities and relevant institutions urging the government to halt its mining. 

A study on the influence of exploration activities of a potential lithium mine to the environment in Western Serbia was conducted. It was funded by the Ministry of Science, Technological Development and Innovation of the Republic of Serbia and it states the following:

“The proposed exploitation of the Jadar Valley lithium/borate deposit in Serbia, by the Rio Tinto Corporation, indicates that it would become large-scale processing of boron- and lithium-containing ore. It would be one of the world’s very first lithium mines in populated and agricultural areas. The company claims that the envisioned mining will be in accordance with environmental protection requirements. The Jadar Valley deposits have been claimed to cover 90% of Europe’s current lithium needs. Yet, local opposition to the mining has arisen due to potential devastating impacts on groundwater, soil, water usage, biodiversity loss, and waste accumulation. Research drilling by the mining company has already produced environmental damage, with mine water containing high levels of boron leaking from exploratory wells and causing crops to dry out. Furthermore, our investigations reveal substantially elevated downstream concentrations of boron, arsenic, and lithium in nearby rivers as compared to upstream regions. Additionally, here we show that soil samples exhibit repeated breaches of remediation limit values with environmental consequences on both surface and underground waters. With the opening of the mine, problems will be multiplied by the tailings pond, mine wastewater, noise, air pollution, and light pollution, endangering the lives of numerous local communities and destroying their freshwater sources, agricultural land, livestock, and assets.” 

Rio Tinto Responds to Criticism as Academic Concerns Mount

Rio Tinto hastily requested the study’s retraction, alleging it was incorrect. One of the main issues highlighted was that the Scientific Reports team did not supply baseline data on metal concentrations in soil and water prior to the exploration. According to company scientists, the increased levels of these metals might be a result of a “natural phenomenon.” Scientific Reports denied their request and confirmed that they stand behind the study. Rio Tinto released its own study, affirming the sustainability of the project and that there are no reasons to worry. 

The Faculty of Biology in Belgrade has distanced itself from the draft environmental impact study of the “Jadar” project, asserting that all responsibility for the data and conclusions rests solely with Rio Tinto and its British consulting partner. The faculty explained that its public stance stems from its involvement in creating the ‘Final Report on the Review of the Impact of the “Jadar” Project on Biodiversity’ for ‘Rio Sava Exploration d.o.o.,’ a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, raising concerns about potential conflicts of interest and the reliability of the findings.