The head of the Anglo-Australian group Rio Tinto travelled to Serbia on Saturday to reassure residents about its controversial lithium mining project, local media reported. The Serbian government authorised the resumption of operations for the exploitation of Rio Tinto’s lithium mining project in mid-July, a few days after a court ruling cleared the way.
The future of the vast mineral deposits to be exploited by Rio Tinto near Loznica in western Serbia has been the source of much political wrangling in recent years. Rio Tinto CEO Jakob Stausholm attended a meeting between Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and residents of the town of Ljubovija on Saturday, giving him the opportunity to reassure the local population, the Serbian news agency reported. Beta.
“The biggest challenge for us is to gain the trust of those who live here”admis Jakob Stausholm, cited par Beta. He has «promis» to ensure the safety of mine workers and local residents by ensuring that water, soil and natural habitats are clean and safe. President Vucic himself is making a five-day visit to the area where the future mine will be located to hold talks with the local population.
“These will be difficult and tough discussions, but I think they will produce an essential dialogue.”he commented on Friday. In an interview withAFPthe Serbian president reaffirmed his support for the Rio Tinto project at the end of August. “We will remain tenacious and firm on this issue because we believe it is of the utmost importance for Serbia and it is for the benefit of the Serbian people.”he said. However, the protests remain strong in the country. Several thousand people demonstrated against the project in at least four cities in Serbia at the end of July.
On July 19, a week after Belgrade gave the green light to restart mining, Serbia and the European Union signed a partnership to ensure the supply of lithium, considered crucial in the ecological transition. Lithium is a metal extracted from ores that is essential for the manufacture of batteries for electric cars. The European automotive industry is investing heavily in this transition, while new combustion-engine vehicles will be banned from sale in the EU from 2035. Discovered in 2004, the lithium reserves in the Jadar region of western Serbia are among the largest in Europe.
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