In Serbia, opponents of lithium mining have recently resumed protests against the exploitation of lithium deposits in the country. The main concern is the potential environmental impact of the mining project, which could lead to water scarcity, soil pollution, and habitat destruction. The protests are a reaction to the Serbian government’s decision to grant exploration licenses to Rio Tinto and its joint venture partner, the state-owned company Jadar. The company plans to extract lithium from the Jadar deposit using a method called in-situ leaching, which involves injecting chemicals into the ground to dissolve and extract the metal. Critics argue that this method poses significant risks to groundwater and the environment and that the Serbian government should revoke the exploration licenses.
In summary, the answer to the question is that opponents of lithium mining in Serbia are resuming protests against the exploitation of lithium deposits due to concerns about the potential environmental impact of the mining project. They are demanding the revocation of exploration licenses granted to Rio Tinto and its joint venture partner, Jadar.