Rio Tinto said on Thursday newly published environmental studies showed that its Serbia lithium project, which was stopped in 2022 after massive protests, would be safe for the environment.project in Western Serbia could cover 90% of Europe’s current lithium needs and help to make the company a leading lithium producer.
“Results of scientific research show that the Jadar project can be realised safely by respecting highest domestic and international environmental standards,” the company said in a statement. Green activists say the mine will pollute water supply, causing more environmental damage in Serbia, already one of Europe’s most polluted countries.
Serbian Prime Minister Milos Vucevic, who took over last month after December’s parliamentary election, told state RTS TV that he was open to talks about resuming the project.