The story of the lithium mine in Serbia which ignites protests from residents but brings Belgrade closer to joining the EU

The Jadar mine project, on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina, is considered fundamental for the energy transition started by Brussels.But citizens fear the environmental consequences

Ecological transition and international relations often go hand in hand.And to realize this, just look at what is happening in Serbia, where for weeks there has been protest against the government's decision to authorize the construction of a large mine for the extraction of lithium in the Jadar river valley, on the border with Bosnia and Herzegovina.This is an impressive project also supported by the European Union, which has so far been forced to import the vast majority of critical raw materials – including lithium – from China.President Aleksandar Vučić's signature to authorize the opening of the mine should also be read as an attempt to improve relations with EU leaders and bring Serbia closer to its long-awaited entry into the Union.

The street protests and the precedent of 2022

This strategy is contested by the thousands of people who have taken to the streets of Belgrade in recent weeks to protest against President Vučić and ask for the authorization for the lithium mine to be revoked.To be honest, street protests against the opening of the Jadar mine are nothing new.The first authorization from the Serbian government to exploit lithium deposits dates back to 2019.Three years later, following large anti-government protests and the upcoming presidential elections, Vučić decided to revoke the permits and stall the entire project.In 2024, the Serbian Constitutional Court declared this move illegitimate, calling on the executive to restart the project and reigniting the flames of protests.

The fear of the residents

The Anglo-Australian company Rio Tinto won the permit to operate in the mine, according to which the activities will be conducted in full compliance with Serbian and European laws and will have minimal environmental impacts.However, residents do not trust and fear that extraction activities will pollute the water and soil.«We don't need “green” cars.We need green apples and green meadows,” explained Angela Rojovic, a young protester, to the New York Times.A scientific article published in July on Scientific Reports showed that the exploration excavations of the area alone contaminated a large reservoir of drinking water underground.For its part, Rio Tinto ensures that "no chemical substances will filter into the air, water or soil" and relies on promises of jobs for the residents of the area:20 thousand, according to estimates by the Serbian government.

The race for the new "white gold"

The ecological and energy transition policies launched in recent years by governments around the world have caused the demand for lithium to surge, which is used above all in energy storage systems and for electric car batteries.According to estimates from the Serbian Ministry of Energy, 58 thousand tons of lithium could be extracted in the Jadar mine in the first two years.A quantity sufficient for the production of batteries for over one million electric vehicles.Today the European Union imports almost all the lithium it needs, but with the Critical Raw Materials Act has undertaken to encourage the reopening of mines also on European soil.According to the Hague Center for Strategic Studies, EU countries will need sixty times more lithium than they imported in 2020 if they really want to achieve the climate neutrality goals set for 2050.

Vučić's promise to the EU

Last July 19, the European Union and the Serbian government signed a memorandum of understanding where they promise to collaborate for the exploitation of the Jadar mine.A project that not only community institutions have their eyes on but also some large automotive companies, including Mercedes-Benz and Stellantis, interested in purchasing the lithium extracted on site.The full operation of the mine would allow Brussels to reduce lithium imports from abroad and deepen trade relations with Serbia, distancing it from the sphere of influence of Vladimir Putin.Since 2009, in fact, the country now governed by Aleksandar Vučić has wanted to join the European Union, but since then little progress has been made in this direction.The doubts of the EU leaders concern above all some policies of the Serbian government on the autonomy of the judiciary, on the control of the media but also Vučić's ambiguous relations with Moscow.And who knows if it will be the future supplies of lithium that will convince Brussels to change its mind and speed up negotiations for Serbia's entry into the Union.

On the cover:A march in Belgrade organized to protest against the opening of the lithium mine in Serbia, 10 August 2024 (EPA/Andrej Cukic)