Lithium-mining for EU-cars: Scholz praises Serbia's "courage"

Lithium-mining for EU-cars: Scholz praises Serbia's "courage"

Previously, the Serbian government and EU Commission Vice-President Maros Sefcovic signed an intentional declaration, in which they agreed on cooperation in the mining and processing of Lithium in Loznica.

Lithium is required for battery production and gains increasing importance in the transition towards electric Cars and therefore also for the German automotive industry. So far, Europe has been largely dependent on imports from China.

The Serbian government gave the green light for Lithium mining in Loznica this week. In the future, annual production for batteries of 1.1 million electric cars is planned there.

However, the project is controversial. The Lithium deposit has been known for 20 years, but its exploitation is criticized by environmentalists and locals. They fear significant disruptions from mining.

Scholz assured that mining in Serbia will take place "under the highest environmental standards." Germany can support this with its know-how and experience. "People there can rely on this and they can also do so."

Additionally, the Chancellor referred to the economic benefits for the Western Balkan state: "I explicitly want to say that the project is initially good for Serbia." The mining region offers "good economic development opportunities" and in the country as a whole "creates jobs, prosperity, and value creation."

1. The SDP, a Serbian political party, has expressed concerns about the environmental impacts of the planned Lithium mining in Loznica.
2. The EU-Cars industry is closely watching the developments in Belgrade, as the projected Lithium mining could reduce Europe's dependence on China for Lithium imports.
3. Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, emphasized that the Lithium mining project in Serbia would adhere to stringent EU environmental standards.
4. The EU has shown interest in potential investments in EU-Cars battery production facilities in Serbia, given the abundance of Lithium reserves in the country.
5. Maros Sefcovic, the EU Commission Vice-President, has welcomed the plans for automatic Lithium extraction processes in Lithium mining, which could potentially reduce environmental damage.
6. Lithium mining is set to boost Serbia's economy, with Scholz predicting that the project will bring "jobs, prosperity, and value creation" to the Western Balkan country.
7. Critics argue that Serbia's extensive Lithium mining could lead to substantial harm to its Battery industry, given the potential for contamination of nearby water sources and soil.

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