Raw material for batteries - Serbia paves the way for extensive Lithium mining
The Serbian government is making way for the mining of Lithium in the Jadar Valley, located in the western part of the country, despite years of protests from environmental activists. This was reported by the Serbian news agency Tanjug. Near Loznica, there is believed to be one of Europe's largest reserves of this globally scarce resource, which is important for the electrocar industry. With a new regulation, Belgrade is complying with a recent ruling of the Serbian Constitutional Court. According to the ruling, the 2022 annulment of the spatial planning procedure for the Lithium mining project was unlawful.
Lithium plays an important role in the production of electric vehicles, but in Europe, reserves are scarce. According to Serbian media reports, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is planning to travel to Serbia already on Friday for the promotion. An inquiry to the German government regarding this matter remained unanswered initially.
Rio Tinto, an Australian mining giant, has been interested in the project for years and has already acquired real estate in the region. Serbia's Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic, stated that this project represents the future of Serbia's economic integration into Europe.
According to Rio Tinto's estimates, this mine could produce 58,000 tons of Lithium annually, reported Serbian media. This would cover the demand of 1.1 million electric cars, which is approximately 17% of European production.
Environmental activists criticize the mining of Lithium, among other things, because it contaminates groundwater with heavy metals and thus poses a threat to the drinking water supply of the local residents.
- Despite the concerns raised by environmental activists for years, the Serbian government is pushing forward with the mining of Lithium in the Jadar Valley, a region known for its large reserves of this resource.
- Olaf Scholz, the German Chancellor, is reportedly planning to visit Serbia to support the Lithium mining project, which is crucial for the European automobile industry.
- Rio Tinto, a prominent mining company based in Australia, has shown interest in the Lithium mining project in Serbia for several years and has already acquired land in the area.
- The mining of Lithium in Serbia, as per estimates provided by Rio Tinto, could annualy produce 58,000 tons of Lithium, sufficient to meet the demand for batteries in 1.1 million electric vehicles.
- Environmentalists have raised concerns about the potential impacts of Lithium mining on groundwater contamination, posing a risk to the drinking water supply of local residents in Belgrade.
- The Constitutional Court of Serbia ruled that the 2022 annulment of the spatial planning procedure for the Lithium mining project was unlawful, paving the way for the project's continuation.
- The Serbian automobile industry and the European industry at large stand to benefit greatly from the successful implementation of the Lithium mining project, as Lithium is a key component in the production of electric vehicle batteries.
