Thousands protest in the Serbian capital against the lithium mine August 11, 2024

Thousands of people chanted slogans against the mine as they demonstrated in central Belgrade © MARKO DJOKOVIC / AFP

By AFP - Agence France Presse

Thousands protest in the Serbian capital against the lithium mine

Belgrade (AFP) - Thousands of people took to the streets of Serbia's capital Belgrade on Saturday to protest against the restart of a controversial lithium mine that is supposed to serve as a vital source to fuel Europe's green energy transition

Before the demonstration, two protest leaders said that security authorities briefly detained them, warning them that any move to block roads during the protest would be considered illegal.

Thousands of people shouted "Rio Tinto, get out of Serbia" and "You will not dig in" as they gathered in the center of Belgrade, before starting a march through the city.

Interior Ministry figures later estimated the size of the crowd at between 24,000 and 27,000 people. Later, the protesters entered Belgrade's main train station, where they blocked the tracks, disrupting traffic.

"The organizers and leaders were warned by the police before and during the protest that their actions were not in accordance with the law," Interior Minister Ivica Dacic said in a statement, promising that charges would be brought against "all perpetrators".

Serbia has vast lithium deposits near the town of Loznica in the west of the country. A mining project being developed by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has been a perennial political flashpoint in the Balkan country in recent years because of its possible environmental impacts.

The deposits were discovered in 2004, but weeks of mass protests forced the government to halt the project in 2022.

The government revived the project after a court ruling last month which stated that the order to revoke the licenses granted to Rio Tinto "was not in accordance with the constitution and the law".

The Serbian government has signed a memorandum of understanding with the EU which is seen as the first step towards developing Serbia's lithium resources.

Protesters vow to cause disruption

Lithium is a strategically valuable metal needed for electric vehicle batteries, which makes it key to helping the automotive sector switch to greener production.

The project, however, remains unpopular with many in Serbia due to concerns that the mine will pollute water sources and endanger public health.

"I'm in Belgrade because the survival of life in Serbia is being defended here," said Slobodan Stanimirovic, 58, from Radjevina in western Serbia, near the site of the future mine.

The Belgrade protest was the latest in a series of protests held across the country after the mine's licenses were reinstated.

Late on Saturday, protest leader Zlatko Kokanovic vowed to block more train crossings in the coming days.

"We will be here all night and all day," said Kokanovic.

The activists and protesters want lawmakers to pass a law permanently banning lithium and boron mining in Serbia.

Environmental groups said they were prepared to block major traffic arteries across Serbia and engage in civil disobedience if the government refused to act before the August 10 deadline set by the activists.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has repeatedly promised that no mining operations will begin until guarantees on environmental safety protocols are in place.

© 2024 AFP