Rio Tinto faces growing opposition to Serbian lithium mine

Tensions are escalating over Rio Tinto’s plans for a major lithium mine in Serbia, with locals fearing environmental destruction and geopolitical manipulation.

Andrew Higgins reports for The New York Times.

In short:

Rio Tinto’s stalled lithium project in Serbia has sparked widespread protests due to environmental concerns and political controversies.
The Serbian government initially canceled the project but reversed course under EU pressure, reigniting public anger.
Critics accuse the West of using the mine to pull Serbia away from Russia while sacrificing local environmental safety.

Key quote:

“I don’t need green cars. I need green apples and green grass.”

— Angela Rojovic, protester.

Why this matters:

The conflict highlights the tension between global environmental goals and local concerns. It also underscores the geopolitical tug-of-war over critical resources like lithium.

www.nytimes.com

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