Lithium conflict reignites: Serbia faces unrest over mining decision
Authorities in Belgrade reported that the Serbian government reinstated the possibility of lithium exploitation in the western part of the country on Tuesday. This decision sparked massive opposition. Opposition MP Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta stated that the government has declared war on its people.
According to the report, the government took action to restore the legal order before the adoption of provisions recently deemed unconstitutional. Belgrade reinstated the regulation regarding the spatial plan for the lithium extraction project in the Jadar Valley west of the country.
Last Thursday, the Constitutional Court of Serbia ruled that the government's 2022 decision to halt the Jadar project was unconstitutional. Serbian authorities had adopted it in response to massive protests against the launch of the lithium mine.
The Constitutional Court determined that the government had exceeded its powers in 2022 by issuing a regulation in a manner inconsistent with the constitution.
The lithium extraction plan re-emerged in Serbia's public debate a few weeks ago. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and other officials have repeatedly emphasised that the project represents a great economic opportunity for the country.
On the other hand, activists and part of the society oppose the extraction, pointing to potential negative environmental impacts.
The government has declared war on its own people. Tensions rise in Serbia
Tuesday's decision was commented on by, among others, opposition MP Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta. He called all citizens to prepare for general mobilisation and to defend the Jadar Valley together.
Savo Manojlović, leader of the Kreni-Promeni movement, said that by making this decision, the government takes responsibility for any potential unrest and social conflicts.
Lithium and its compounds are used, among other things, in the production of heat-resistant glass and ceramics, durable alloys used in aviation, lithium cells, and lithium-ion batteries.
Geologists estimate that the Jadar Valley might contain the largest reserves of the resource in Europe. Researchers from the Economist Intelligence Unit noted that lithium extraction could be extremely profitable for Serbia.
The country holds 1.3% of the world's known metal reserves. Serbian lithium is estimated to be worth around £3.5 billion, and its extraction over ten years could provide hundreds of jobs and a steady income stream for the government, analysts emphasised.
