Let’s Protect Jadar and Radjevina Association: Vucic Throwing Dust in Our Eyes

Marija Alimpic (BETAPHOTO/MEDIJA CENTAR BEOGRAD/MO)

President Aleksandar Vucic’s promise that the Loznica local assembly would abolish the Spatial plan, which envisaged for company Rio Tinto to dig a lithium mine in the region of Jadar and Radjevina, was actually throwing dust in citizens’ eyes, Marija Alimpic, a representative of Association of Citizens Let’s Protect Jadar and Radjevina, said on Dec. 15.

Alimpic told BETA that the Spatial plan for the special purpose area for Jadar Project had been adopted by the Serbian government on March 20, 2020, which the Loznica local assembly had integrated in its Spatial plan and now had to abolish it.

“Scrapping the Loznica Spatial plan is throwing dust in citizens’ eyes as all the permits Rio Tino has so far obtained for opening the mine, including location requirements and the permit for land conversion from farming into building land, have been implemented based on the Spatial plan for the special purpose area that has been approved by the Serbian government,” Alimpic specified.

She also said that the Spatial plan for the special purpose area for Jadar Project had been adopted in “a criminal and illegal way” and was in violation of the Mining law, even before the project finalization.  Alimpic  also said that Let’s Protect Jadar and Radjevina Association “demands from the Serbian government to abolish the Spatial plan for special purpose area in order to at least temporarily discontinue Rio Tinto’ activities leading to mine opening.