Discussions on banning lithium exploitation have been highlighted in Serbia’s National Assembly, with Speaker Ana Brnabić set to address the issue. The remarks come despite her party’s earlier inaction on a public initiative concerning the same topic. Public debate has also focused on the mine in Gornji Nedeljice and how state decisions since 2015 have affected Rio Tinto’s position.
Brnabić said that strong public opposition to the mine was linked to “gifts” brought by Rio Tinto to Serbia. Her comments were presented as implying that the current government is both dismissing public sentiment and benefiting from actions taken by a previous administration. The dispute has also been tied to questions about credibility in potential arbitration involving Rio Tinto.
Exploration permit timeline and changes to mining legislation
The chronology of permits and legal adjustments has been scrutinized in relation to Rio Tinto’s activities. It was reported that US Borax, described as a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, received an exploration permit as far back as 1998. Later, in 2006, the Mining Law was amended to connect exploration rights with exploitation rights.
The 2006 amendment was described as being intended to accommodate NIS and other oil fields. Despite those changes, Rio Tinto did not obtain an exploitation permit, according to the account provided. The explanation given is that subsequent changes in agricultural land laws prevented progress toward an exploitation permit.
Spatial Plan reinstatement after Constitutional Court decision
More recent government actions have included reinstating the Spatial Plan for the Jadar project. The reinstatement followed a decision by Serbia’s Constitutional Court, according to the account. This step is described as part of developments that enabled the company’s progress despite significant public opposition.
The reinstatement is linked with a separate agreement signed between the government and Rio Tinto in 2017. Together, these measures are described as facilitating movement on the Jadar project amid ongoing protests. The reported sequence places the Constitutional Court outcome and the 2017 memorandum within the broader timeline of state concessions since 2015.
2017 memorandum, working group oversight, and transparency concerns
A 2017 Memorandum of Understanding between the government and Rio Tinto highlighted Rio Sava’s investment in jadarite research. Under the memorandum, the government committed to establishing a working group to oversee the Jadar project. Concerns were raised about transparency regarding how that working group operates.
The concerns include references to efforts in the past to keep minutes from being made public. During the COVID-19 pandemic period, it was reported that forming a working group for the Jadar project was prioritized. Attempts to limit public information about the group were criticized, with a former Minister of Mining citing public safety concerns as a reason for withholding documentation.