BELGRADE
\nZlatko Kokanovic, a 48-year-old farmer from the Serbian village of Gornje Nedeljice, has spearheaded a significant protest movement against Rio Tinto\u2019s proposed lithium mine in Serbia on Thursday. Kokanovic and his fellow villagers argue that the development of what is planned to be Europe\u2019s largest lithium mine would have detrimental effects on their environment and public health.
\nThe Serbian government recently reinstated Rio Tinto\u2019s licence to develop the mine in the Jadar region of western Serbia, reversing a previous decision made two years ago when the licence was annulled due to environmental protests. The mine, if constructed, would supply around 90% of Europe\u2019s current lithium needs, positioning Rio Tinto as a major global player in lithium production, which is crucial for electric vehicle and mobile device batteries.
\nThe villagers\u2019 warnings about the potential hazards of mining, including pollution from arsenic, sulphuric acid, and dust, have prompted a wave of protests across Serbia. Over the past month, demonstrations have erupted in numerous cities as citizens rally against the project.
\nThe protesters have set a deadline of August 10 for the government to pass legislation banning lithium exploration, a demand the government has yet to address.
\nKokanovic, who manages 30 hectares of land and produces up to 100,000 litres of milk annually, is leading the charge against the mine, asserting that the project would lead to severe environmental degradation and health risks for local residents.
\n\u201cThe mine would be the destruction of Serbia at the expense of our health to free the European Union from reliance on China for lithium,\u201d Kokanovic stated, expressing his belief that the mine would benefit Europe at Serbia\u2019s expense. He declared, \u201cThere will be no mine here.\u201d
\nThe Serbian government views the $2.4 billion Jadar lithium project as a crucial element in strengthening the country\u2019s struggling economy and has not yet heeded the protesters\u2019 demands. In response to escalating tensions, Kokanovic and his neighbours have vowed to escalate their protests, including a planned rally in Belgrade this Saturday.
\nNeighbour Marijana Petkovic voiced her community\u2019s resolve to physically block any mining equipment if necessary. \u201cWe will defend our homes, our land, our church, and our cemetery. Further radicalisation will be the next step if necessary,\u201d she asserted.
\nIn an effort to address concerns about potential pollution, Rio Tinto has published new environmental studies claiming the project\u2019s safety.
\nAdditionally, the Serbian health ministry has established a commission to evaluate the impact of lithium mining on human health. President Aleksandar Vucic, addressing concerns on Wednesday, assured that no mining activities would commence for two years, suggesting that current fears are premature.
\nThe controversy surrounding the mine intensified following a deal signed on July 19 by Vucic, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and EU Energy Commissioner Maros Sefcovic. The agreement aims to grant EU member states access to raw materials from Serbia, including lithium, to decrease the EU\u2019s dependency on imports from America and Asia.
\nDespite these assurances, opposition remains strong. Protesters in Kragujevac continued to demonstrate, underscoring their refusal to accept the project. \u201cWe do not want lithium in Serbia. If the damage to the environment is higher than the economic benefit, then it is clear why the project is not good,\u201d said demonstrator Aleksandar Jankovic.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
BELGRADE Zlatko Kokanovic, a 48-year-old farmer from the Serbian village of Gornje Nedeljice, has spearheaded a significant protest movement against Rio Tinto\u2019s proposed lithium mine in Serbia on Thursday. Kokanovic and his fellow villagers argue that the development of what is planned to be Europe\u2019s largest lithium mine would have detrimental effects on their environment […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":423782,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-423746","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n