Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Belgrade, Serbia to rally against the rebooting of a controversial lithium mine set to support Europe’s green energy transition. Protesters chanted slogans like “Rio Tinto get out of Serbia” and “You won’t dig” as they marched through the city, eventually blocking the main railway station.
The lithium deposits near Loznica have been a point of contention in Serbia, with a mining project by Rio Tinto sparking mass protests in 2022. The government recently revived the project despite previous opposition and signed a memorandum of understanding with the EU to develop Serbia’s lithium resources.
Critics of the project are concerned about potential pollution of water sources and public health risks. Activists are calling for a permanent ban on lithium and boron mining in Serbia, threatening civil disobedience if demands are not met by a certain deadline. President Aleksandar Vučić has promised no mining operations will begin until environmental safety protocols are in place.
The protest in Belgrade is part of a series of demonstrations against the reinstated mining licenses, highlighting the ongoing battle between environmental concerns and economic interests in the region.
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