The troubles spotlight the challenges to constructing new mines in Europe, at the same time as governments attempt to safe provides of minerals similar to lithium which can be essential for the vitality transition. For the world’s second-largest miner, the Serbian mine has develop into a flagship improvement tasks because it seems to dilute its dependence on iron ore.
The mission was halted in 2022 to defuse protests by environmental activists involved that mining and processing lithium, a metallic important for battery manufacturing, would trigger air pollution. Serbia’s prime courtroom lifted the ban in July.
Saturday’s rally adopted greater than a dozen smaller protests throughout Serbia.
Vucic’s administration has touted the mission as a lift to the financial system. Finance Minister Sinisa Mali has mentioned that lithium mining, if complemented by native manufacturing of batteries and electrical autos, might add as a lot as €12 billion ($13 billion) yearly to Serbia’s financial output.
Final month, Serbian and EU officers signed an settlement on offering provides of crucial uncooked supplies throughout the bloc, with a give attention to lithium. Mercedes Benz AG chief government officer Ola Kaellenius and Stellantis NV representatives additionally signed a letter of intent to spend money on creating EV battery outputs.
The activists dismiss assurances from the federal government that the mine would adhere to strict environmental requirements.
(By Misha Savic and Jan Bratanic)