Rio Tinto says its newly issued draft environmental impact assessments support the safety of planned lithium extraction at the Jadar mine in northern Serbia. Chad Blewitt, managing director of Rio Tinto’s Jadar project, said the company is committed to “factual dialogue” amid claims he described as misinformation and unfounded allegations.
Serbian public concerns over water and farmland
Opposition to the project has come from Serbian citizens who cite potential environmental damage. The concerns include possible river pollution and disruption of agricultural lands. Blewitt responded by stating that stringent safety measures are intended to prevent chemical leakage into air, water, or soil.
He also said the project would comply with Serbian and EU regulations. The company’s position is that its draft assessments address the safety issues raised by opponents.
Proposed approach for agricultural impacts
Blewitt addressed concerns related to farming activity by describing a plan for how agricultural produce would be handled. He said Rio Tinto would purchase agricultural produce at market prices and use it to feed the workforce. The company framed this as a way to coexist with farming activities.
The proposal was presented in the context of ongoing debate about how operations could affect agricultural land.
Permits, timelines and EU scrutiny
Serbia’s President Aleksandar Vucic indicated that mining permits could be reinstated if new guarantees are provided by Rio Tinto and the EU. The remarks were linked to ambitions to use the mine for lithium production and to attract electric vehicle battery manufacturers to Serbia. Rio Tinto cautioned that any start depends on regulatory approvals, leaving uncertainty over when operations could begin.
Renewed protests and dispute over impact assessments
The prospect of mine resumption has led to renewed protests. Demonstrators alleged that the government is prioritizing foreign interests over public welfare. While Rio Tinto has pointed to economic benefits for Serbia, protesters said they remain skeptical of the credibility of impact assessments produced by the company itself.
EU officials said environmental impact assessments are standard practice for companies and are subject to governmental scrutiny. They described this as consistent with global norms for environmental evaluation processes.