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Serbia: Protests over Lithium Mining

  • Posted By
    10Pointer
  • Categories
    Environment
  • Published
    29th Jan, 2022

The Serbian government has revoked the licenses for lithium mining to Rio Tinto, an Anglo-Australian multinational mining organisation, following protests for nearly two months.

Context

The Serbian government has revoked the licenses for lithium mining to Rio Tinto, an Anglo-Australian multinational mining organisation, following protests for nearly two months.

About

  • Serbians have been protesting against Rio Tinto’s plans to mine lithium in the Jadar valley near Lozinca town in the country.
  • Rio Tinto had discovered lithium deposits in the country in 2006 and had bought land in the Lozinca area in Serbia.
  • While Rio Tinto has said to be fulfilling all Serbia’s and European Union’s environmental standards, protestors have been pointing out that lithium mining in the $2.4-billion project would irrevocably pollute the drinking water.
  • Serbian capital Belgrade is surrounded by lignite mines and coal power plants powered by these mines, which only make the pollution worse.

Rio Tinto Plan

  • Rio Tinto had discovered lithium deposits in 2006, in Serbia and had bought land in the Lozinca area. 
  • The company had been planning to invest USD 2.4 billion in the project. 
    • If completed, the project would be one of the biggest investment projects in the country.

Significance of the project

  • The mine would have produced enough lithium, for operating one million electric vehicles along with sodium sulphate and boric acid. 
  • Once it is fully functional, mine would have created 58,000 tonnes of refined battery-grade lithium carbonate, annually. 
    • This would have made the mine Europe's most lithium-producing mine.

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