Mass Protests in Serbia Over Reopening of Lithium Mine
Thousands of protesters gathered across several towns in Serbia on July 29 to express their opposition to the reopening of a controversial lithium mine. The mine, located near the western city of Loznica, had been closed for two years following widespread public dissent. The project, led by Anglo-Australian mining company Rio Tinto, has been a contentious issue in Serbia.
Demonstrators marched through the streets of Arandjelovac, Sabac, Kraljevo, and Ljig, chanting slogans such as “Rio Tinto go away.” N1 television reported that each of three marches attracted over 1,000 participants.
At the protest in Arandjelovac, chemistry professor Karolina Aleksandrovic highlighted the environmental risks, stating, “There is no antidote to the pollution caused by the mine.” In Kraljevo, environmental activist Nebojsa Kovandzic criticized the authorities, saying, “Serbia’s authorities work for their own interests, and never for the interest of the citizens. They have occupied our rivers, our forests.”
The lithium deposits near Loznica were discovered in 2004, but significant opposition from local communities led the government to halt the project in 2022. However, on July 16, following a court ruling that overturned the cancellation of its permits, the Serbian government approved the project's restart, triggering new protests.
On July 19, the European Union and Serbia signed a deal to develop the supply of battery materials during a "critical raw materials summit." A German government spokesperson noted that the deal was made considering the "sustainable lithium extraction project" in Serbia.
The Serbian NGO Archive of Public Gatherings reported a high turnout at the protests, indicating strong local opposition. The organization remarked on the unprecedented mobilization of communities, suggesting it reflected significant concern over the project’s impact.
