Serbia people protest lithium mining

Thousands of people in Serbia protested against a plan to mine one of Europe’s largest lithium deposits, saying that the mining will cause irreversible damage to environment.

The lithium deposit is located in Serbia's Jadar Valley. Protestors say that lithium mining will cause destruction and damage in Jadar Valley an destroy environment. A license had been granted to mining giant Rio Tinto to do the lithium mining there, but the same had been revoked in 2022 after a widespread protest, but a court decision has restarted the project.

Protestors cried: ‘Rio Tinto, get out of Serbia’, holding banners that read: ‘We do not give Serbia away’. Lithium is a crucial mineral for making of car batteries. Serbia Interior Ministry has, however, not taken the protest kindly and said that the protestors would be dealt ‘in accordance with the law’.