The Serbian parliament rejected proposed amendments to the Law on Mining and Geological Research that would have banned lithium and boron exploration. The vote recorded 128 MPs against the changes, 84 in support, and two abstentions. The debate took place earlier in the week amid political tensions linked to a proposed lithium project in the Jadar Valley.
Parliamentary vote on mining law amendments
Opposition lawmakers focused their remarks on the environmental implications of the Jadar Valley plan, which is led by mining company Rio Tinto. They also said the government had previously indicated it would drop the lithium initiative before the last elections, but later resumed it. Danijela Nestorovic, an opposition MP who supported the amendments, argued for a permanent prohibition on mining for future generations.
Nestorovic said that ensuring clean water, air and land for children is a constitutional responsibility. Minister of Mining and Energy Dubravka Djedovic Handanovic opposed the amendments and said adopting them would make Serbia the first country to prohibit exploration of lithium and boron. She also linked the issue to Serbia’s role in the energy transition and to potential development of value chains aligned with high environmental standards.
Environmental assessment steps for Jadar Valley
Djedovic Handanovic said the Jadar project would proceed only if it could be shown to have no negative environmental consequences. She added that, following a request from Rio Sava Exploration, the Serbian branch of Rio Tinto, the Ministry of Environmental Protection is expected to set the scope of an environmental impact assessment for the Jadar Valley project. The assessment process has been accompanied by mass protests tied to fears of environmental degradation.
State officials have also hinted at revisiting the project despite an earlier commitment to cancel it. A BIRN investigation published in February 2023 reported that Rio Tinto spent at least €1.2 million acquiring land at the proposed site after the project was officially canceled. Activists have continued to raise concerns about potential harm to water and land resources.
Project timeline and company footprint
The lithium initiative was shelved in January 2022 after significant public protests. Former Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said at the time, just before April elections, that “Everything is finished. It’s over.” Local activists and residents have also questioned what they describe as limited financial benefits for Serbia while pointing to Rio Tinto’s broader record in other countries.
Lithium extraction is described as chemically intensive, requiring large volumes of rock to obtain lithium. Rio Tinto says its Jadar Valley mine would be among the largest in Europe and places the company among the top ten global lithium producers. The company has framed its project within battery supply needs supported by governments including those of the UK, Australia, the US and EU institutions.
Battery mineral demand and international support
Demand for lithium is expected to rise substantially due to electric vehicle adoption, with projections cited as 18 times by 2030 and 60 times by 2050. The proposed Jadar Valley project has therefore attracted attention from actors seeking a stable supply chain for battery minerals. Environmental concerns tied to exploration and potential impacts remain central to domestic opposition as parliamentary debate continues over whether exploration should be barred.