Serbias Dirty Fight for Raw Materials HAVE 20

Serbia’s Dirty Fight for Raw Materials | HAVE | 20 06 2023 | 6:25 pm

The world needs lithium. According to the current state of the art, no smartphone or electric car works without light metal. The EU wants to become the second largest producer of lithium batteries by 2025. That’s why it is also backing a mining project run by mining group Rio Tinto in western Serbia. Europe’s largest lithium mine to date is planned there. However, biologists and environmentalists are warning: a mine in a partially protected area would cause massive damage to flora and fauna. The EU is moving dirty production processes to its own periphery. After protests across the country, the project in Serbia is on hold, but negotiations continue behind the scenes. The promotion of Serbian lithium is also aimed at helping the EU’s “Global Gateway” initiative, with which Brussels is reacting to China’s “New Silk Road”.

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