Thousands Protest Serbia’s Deal with the European Union to Excavate Lithium
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Loading... - Bill Bouchard
- 30 Jul 2024
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Thousands of people rallied in several towns in Serbia on Monday to protest a controversial lithium excavation project that the Serbian government recently signed with the European Union. Demonstrations took place simultaneously in the western town of Šabac and the central towns of Kraljevo, Aranđelovac, Ljig, and Barajevo, following similar gatherings in other Serbian towns over the past few weeks.
The agreement, reached earlier this month and aimed at securing "critical raw materials," could potentially reduce Europe's dependency on China while nudging Serbia, a nation with close ties to Russia and China, closer to the EU. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz attended the summit in Belgrade where the deal was finalized.
Despite its strategic benefits, the deal has faced fierce criticism from environmentalists and opposition groups within Serbia. They argue that the project would cause irreversible environmental damage while providing little benefit to Serbian citizens. The largest lithium reserve in Serbia lies in a western valley known for its fertile land and abundant water resources.
Several years ago, the multinational company Rio Tinto initiated an exploration project in the area, which was met with significant opposition and eventually led to its suspension. However, earlier this month, Serbia’s constitutional court overturned the government's previous decision to cancel a $2.4 billion mining project launched by the British-Australian mining company in the Jadar Valley, thus paving the way for its revival.
The Serbian government had initially canceled the excavation plans in response to massive protests in Belgrade and other parts of Serbia in 2021. Thousands of protesters blocked major roads and bridges, marking the biggest challenge to the increasingly autocratic rule of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić at the time.
President Vučić has since stated that any excavation would not commence before 2028 and emphasized that the government would seek firm environmental guarantees before allowing the project to proceed. Some government officials have even suggested that a referendum on the issue could be held.
The protests reflect a significant public concern over environmental sustainability and the long-term impacts of large-scale mining projects. The opposition remains steadfast in ensuring that environmental considerations are prioritized in any future developments.
