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Government accuses protesters of ulterior motive
The government of President Aleksandar Vucic said the protests were politically motivated, designed to topple Vucic. It had claimed the previous day, albeit providing few details, that it had received a warning from Russia about plans for a coup.
“Our rally today is ecological and has no political ambitions, but the government has accused us of seeking to stage a coup,” actor Svetlana Bojkovic said at the demonstration.
Zlatko Kokanovic, a protest leader and farmer from the Jadar region in western Serbia where the mine is planned, called on demonstrators to block two major train stations in the city.
The protesters temporarily interrupted services at Belgrade’s central train stationImage: Djordje Kojadinovic/REUTERS
Vucic controversially reinstated Rio Tinto’s license to pursue what would be Europe’s largest lithium mine last month, after Serbia’s previous government had canceled the plans.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was part of a European delegation that traveled to Belgrade to welcome the relaunch and seek access to the spoils.
Europe currently imports most of its lithium from the United States and Asia.
Serbia is seeking EU membership but also has several high hurdles in front of it still, not least its relationship with Kosovo.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was in Serbia last month with European leaders seeking a deal for EU members to buy the project’s lithium, a key resource for modern technologies that Europe currently imports en masseImage: Darko Vojinovic/AP Photo/picture alliance
Protesters’ deadline to put plans back on ice expired
Protesters in Serbia had given the government a deadline to call the mining project off again, which expired on Saturday, hence the mobilization.
If implemented as planned, it’s estimated that the $2.4 billion (roughly €2.2 billion) Jadar mine could cover 90% of Europe’s current lithium needs and make Rio Tinto one of the world’s largest lithium producers.
The company and the Serbian government say the highest environmental standards will be upheld in the lush agricultural region, but this has not convinced opponents.
Rio Tinto has bought out entire villages like Gornje Nedeljice pictured here to make room for the ventureImage: Jelena Djukic Pejic/DW
While the mineral is crucial to making things like electric cars, allowing for personal transportation without any carbon dioxide emissions at the point of use, the other environmental costs of mining it can be high.
Skepticism in Serbia amid lithium-extraction deal with EU
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msh/sms (AFP, Reuters)
Source link : https://www.dw.com/en/serbia-protests-over-vast-rio-tinto-lithium-mining-project/a-69910000
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Publish date : 2024-08-11 07:00:00
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