Serbia: Thousands join Belgrade protest against lithium mining

Activists warn the mine could lead to the contamination of land and water and damage public health.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatchHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS ElectionUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessWomen at the HelmFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersThousands protest against lithium mining in SerbiaReutersThousands of people in Serbia have protested in Belgrade against plans to mine one of Europe's largest deposits of lithium - a crucial raw material for electric car batteries.

Activists say the mine would cause irreversible environmental destruction to Serbia's Jadar Valley, where the deposit is located.

A licence granted to mining giant Rio Tinto was revoked in 2022 following widespread protests in the country, but the project was restarted last month following a court decision and government U-turn.

President Aleksandar Vucic has insisted that strict environmental safety protocols will be put in place.

Protesters in the capital chanted "Rio Tinto get out of Serbia" and held banners saying "We do not give Serbia away" as they marched through the city.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cged9qgwrvyo

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