Environmental Minister: No Corners Will Be Cut During Lithium Mining

Irena Vujovic (BETAPHOTO/MILAN ILIC)

With regards to lithium mining in the Jadar Valley and other large projects that could significantly impact Serbia’s further development and the wellbeing of the people, the government will consider both what experts and the public have to say and proceed only with full and unbendable adherence to high environmental protection standards, Serbian Minister of the Environment Irena Vujovic said on July 17.

According to the press release, a recent Constitutional Court decision has re-activated so-called Project Jadar, led by the company Rio Tinto, but the Ministry of Environmental Protection has yet to receive an environmental impact study.

Vujovic said that lithium is currently one of the most sought-after resources in the world and, as such, could play a significant role in the further development of Serbia’s high-tech manufacturing industry, affording the country a great comparative advantage in the global market.

“A responsible governmental strategy would entail attracting foreign investors who will open lithium battery production plants in Serbia,” she said, adding that said batteries have the widest possible applicability, ranging from the automotive industry to telecommunications. “In this way, while also protecting the environment, we would achieve economic benefits which would directly increase the public’s living standard,” Vujovic explained.

The minister went on to state that the exploitation of local resources is well under way in European Union countries, while “the personal interests of certain fanatical individuals and their detrimental and unfounded propaganda” has prevented Serbia’s further economic development and “sabotaged civilized public dialogue.”

Behind the “attempts to rile the public made by certain irresponsible and uninformed individuals – who were the ones to bring Rio Tinto to Serbia in the first place, then loudly touting the project’s value,” Vujovic said, is “blatant self-interest” and has nothing to do with true concern for the people.