Thousands of protesters gathered in Belgrade to protest against the rebooting of a controversial lithium mine by Rio Tinto. The mine is seen as a vital source for Europe’s green energy transition, but protesters fear it will have negative environmental impacts and pose a threat to public health. The project was halted in 2022 after mass protests, but the government revived it after a court decision last month deemed the revocation of permits illegal.
Protesters chanted slogans such as “Rio Tinto get out of Serbia” and “You won’t dig” as they marched through the city and blocked railway tracks at Belgrade’s main train station. The government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the EU to develop Serbia’s lithium resources, a move that has sparked even more protests and demonstrations.
Environmental groups are calling for a permanent ban on lithium and boron mining in Serbia, with some activists threatening civil disobedience if the government does not act by a 10 August deadline. President Aleksandar Vučić has promised that no mining operations will begin until environmental safety protocols are in place.
The protest in Belgrade is part of a series of demonstrations across the country against the mine, highlighting deep-rooted concerns about the potential negative impact on the environment and public health. If the government does not respond to activists’ demands, further protests and disruptions to infrastructure are likely to follow.
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