Activists protest in Belgrade over plans to mine lithium in Serbia

Environmental activists protested outdoors authorities places of work in Belgrade on Saturday to attempt to cease lithium mining in western Serbia.

Final week, mining big Rio Tinto suffered a setback in its plans to extract the steel — an important part in electrical automobiles, laptops, and cellphone batteries.

Loznica city council voted to droop a growth plan that included the mining mission after protests by environmentalists throughout the nation.

For 3 consecutive weekends, hundreds of protesters in Belgrade and different cities throughout the nation blocked fundamental roads and bridges to oppose Rio Tinto’s plans within the lead-up to the vote.

The rallies had been seen as the most important problem but to Serbian president Aleksandar Vučić.

He has responded by saying extra transparency is required about Rio Tinto’s operations, whereas asking the parliament to rethink two current regulation adjustments that will have made it simpler for Rio Tinto to start its operations close to Loznica.

Protesters say any lithium mining might inflict lasting ecological injury to rivers and farmland within the area.

Environmental teams equivalent to Pals of the Earth say lithium extraction can hurt the soil and trigger air contamination.

They are saying it additionally requires a variety of water — round 500,000 gallons per tonne of lithium — which is damaging in international locations that additionally endure from water shortage, equivalent to Peru.

In a press launch from November sixteenth, the corporate mentioned the mission “has the potential (…) to place Rio Tinto as the most important supply of lithium provide in Europe for no less than the following 15 years.”