Serbia reignites lithium debate amid public outcry and legal clash
7:01 PM EDT, July 17, 2024
Authorities in Belgrade reported that the Serbian government reinstated on Tuesday the possibility of lithium exploitation in the western part of the country. This decision sparked massive opposition. "The government has declared war on its own people," said opposition MP Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta.
The government stated it took actions aimed at restoring the legal order that existed 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 in the 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 adopted the regulation in response to massive protests against the launch of the lithium mine.
The Constitutional Court determined that the government exceeded its powers in 2022 by issuing a regulation that was inconsistent with the constitution.
The lithium extraction plan reemerged in Serbia's public debate a few weeks ago. Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and other officials have repeatedly emphasized that the project represents a significant economic opportunity for the country.
However, activists and some segments of society oppose the extraction due to potential negative environmental impacts.
"The government has declared war on its own people." Tensions rise in Serbia
Opposition MP Aleksandar Jovanović Ćuta commented on Tuesday's decision. "The government has declared war on its own people, so we invite all citizens to prepare for general mobilization; let's defend the Jadar Valley together," he urged.
Savo Manojlović, leader of the Kreni-Promeni movement, remarked, "by making this decision, the government takes responsibility for any potential unrest and social conflicts."
Lithium and its compounds produce heat-resistant glass and ceramics, durable alloys for 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. Analysts emphasized that the estimated value of Serbian lithium is 4 billion euros (around $4.2 billion), and its extraction over ten years could provide hundreds of jobs and a steady income stream for the government.
