Serbia’s Jadar Valley and Bosnia and Herzegovina’s Mount Majevica have become the focus of a transnational campaign against lithium mining. The two areas are separated by about 50 kilometers (31 miles). The campaign cites concerns about environmental impacts from foreign mining corporations targeting lithium deposits used in batteries and electric vehicles.
Lithium extraction concerns and chemical risks
Lithium is described as a key input for renewable energy technologies, including batteries and electric vehicles. The extraction process is said to involve chemicals such as sulfuric acid. The source material links those chemicals to potential contamination of soil, groundwater, and air, with implications for ecosystems and human health. In Serbia, exploratory drilling has been associated with soil pollution, raising concerns about possible cross-border contamination.
How resistance began in Serbia’s Jadar Valley
Opposition in Serbia began after local residents learned of planned lithium extraction during a municipal meeting. A spontaneous assembly drew 300 people, triggering resistance across 22 villages in the agriculturally rich Jadar Valley. The groups named in the source include We Won’t Give Up Jadar and Mars sa Drine (March from the Drina River). Residents monitor environmental reports, track land earmarked for mining, and follow the presence of outsiders connected to industrial projects.
Zlatko Kokanović of We Won’t Give Up Jadar is quoted saying that when the company Rio Tinto was pushed on the issue, it responded that it would do its best to meet standards. The source also describes activists using street protests, legal challenges, and ongoing public advocacy. It adds that families are involved in efforts aimed at defending local land.
Expansion of the campaign and international support
The campaign gained national attention with support from the Serbian Academy of Sciences, which published reports addressing potential environmental harm from lithium mining. Politicians, entertainers, and opposition figures amplified the issue through debates in the Serbian parliament. The source also notes a citizens’ legislative initiative to ban lithium mining altogether. International solidarity expanded as well through signatories to the Jadar Declaration.
Activists from the UK, Argentina, Spain, Chile, Portugal, and Germany signed the Jadar Declaration mentioned in the source material. The declaration states support for opposing lithium exploitation and supporting Balkan communities. The source does not specify additional details beyond that pledge.
Temporary pause in Serbia’s projects
The source describes years of grassroots advocacy producing tangible outcomes in Jadar. It states that lithium mining projects there have been temporarily halted. It also says Rio Tinto paused investments and infrastructure development, indicating a pause in the campaign. At the same time, it notes that the company and Serbian authorities remain active in the background.
Kokanović is quoted saying there will be no mine, reflecting cautious optimism. The quote is presented without additional context or follow-up actions in the source material.
Cross-border coordination around Mount Majevica
In Bosnia and Herzegovina, activists are described as facing similar issues on Mount Majevica near Tuzla. Bosnian groups named in the source include Guardians of Majevica, Center for Environment, and Eco Path. They organize protests and coordinate advocacy while crossing ethnic and religious divisions. Tihomir Dakic of the Center for Environment is quoted describing information exchange with colleagues from Serbia.
The source says their joint advocacy extends “even as far away as Berlin and Brussels.” It also states that a proposed mine on Majevica would be about 13 kilometers from Tuzla. The concerns cited include contamination risks for fertile agricultural land and local ecosystems.
Unity across communities and religious leaders’ statements
The campaign in Bosnia is described as breaking long-standing ethnic and religious barriers by uniting Serbs, Croats, and Muslim Bosniaks. The source says even religious leaders who are traditionally aligned with political authorities have voiced opposition. It specifically mentions that the Serbian Orthodox Bishop in Bosnia urged governments to halt mining plans publicly. No further details on statements or dates are provided in the source material.
Regulatory changes affecting mining decisions in Republika Srpska
The source describes legal and political hurdles confronting activists despite grassroots momentum. In Republika Srpska, it says a new law on geological exploration removes local authority over mining decisions. It adds that this change facilitates foreign concessions without proper scrutiny. The source does not provide additional text or implementation timelines for that law.
It further states that success in Serbia has influenced allies in Bosnia while noting that the durability of the transnational movement depends on evolving political landscapes in both countries.
A transnational campaign focused on environmental protection
The source characterizes resistance to lithium mining in the Balkans as transnational through cooperation, knowledge sharing, and joint advocacy across borders. It describes Serbia and Bosnia’s communities as engaging in grassroots mobilization alongside environmental vigilance and international solidarity. It also links these efforts to protecting ecosystems, public health, and cultural heritage as stated in the source material. No additional organizations or policy instruments beyond those already mentioned are included.