In spite of Belgrade’s support for the production of lithium, one of the essential elements for the electrical industry, ecological activists and many citizens protest against the planned mine in the country.
Demonstrations in Belgrade are taking place after several weeks of protests in dozens of cities across the country against the government’s plan to permit lithium mining in the agricultural region of the west. Environmentalists argue that the policy regarding lithium extraction could have dire consequences for the land and its people. The protests have posed a serious challenge to President Aleksandar Vučić, as opponents want the government to officially commit to banning any lithium and boron mining in the country. In recent days, many people in more than 40 Serbian cities have rallied against this project.
Train services have come to a standstill
Protesters have taken to the tracks at two stations in the Serbian capital, effectively halting train services in those areas, Tagesschau said. Many are insisting that the tracks remain unused throughout the night. Initially, the police chose not to intervene; however, Interior Minister Ivica Dacic has described the blockade as a serious breach of public order and peace. Consequently, he has announced that complaints regarding criminal acts and administrative offences will take place. The Serbian news agency Tanjug reports that the police have estimated the number of demonstrators to be between 24,000 and 27,000.
Our rally today is ecological and has no political ambitions, but the government has accused us of seeking to stage a coup. We came here today to raise our voice against something that is beyond politics, actor Svetlana Bojković, one of the protesters, said.
Prior to this, several days earlier, individual leaders of the protesters had announced further blockades of movement in the country, without providing details.
Largest Lithium Deposit
Europe’s largest lithium deposit is situated in the western Serbian valley of Jadar. Given that this raw material is crucial for the production of electric vehicles, Belgrade approved lithium extraction this July, having previously paused it two years earlier due to pressure from environmental campaigners. The initiative gained backing through a preliminary agreement on critical raw materials signed by Prime Minister Vučić’s government and the European Union, AP News said.
On 19 July, in the presence of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, the Serbian government formalised its commitment to revive the extraction plan. This project aims to reduce reliance on China, which dominates global lithium extraction and processing. Serbia’s Minister of Mining and Energy, Dubravka Đedović Handanović, announced that the country will establish a “value chain” related to battery and electric vehicle production, facilitating the development of new technologies.
Environmentalists have raised concerns that lithium extraction could contaminate groundwater with heavy metals, posing risks to local drinking water supplies. Nevertheless, Maroš Šefčovič, the Vice-President of the European Commission, assured that there is a commitment to ensure environmentally sustainable production of this highly sought-after light metal in the Jadar valley.
Protest organisers in Belgrade said the protest would be peaceful, but government officials and state media launched a significant campaign against the gathering, comparing it to the Maidan protests in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv.
