LOZNICA, Serbia -- Thousands of demonstrators gathered on June 28 in western Serbia to protest the opening of a lithium mining project that has been stalled for years over environmental concerns.
The protesters gathered in Loznica to demand that the government adopt a law banning mining within 40 days or face a blockade of the railway in Serbia.
One of the leaders of the protest, Marijana Petkovic, said a letter will be sent on July 1 to the government with the request for a ban on geological research and the mining of minerals used in lithium batteries.
"If they don't fulfill the request, we will block the railways. The railway is just the beginning,” Petkovic said, telling fellow demonstrators in Loznica that they must “push this to the end."
She added that representatives of certain farmers' associations offered help if a blockade of the railways take place.
Among the protesters were citizens and activists from many parts of Serbia, members of opposition parties, and members of the informal civil initiative ProGlas.
The protest comes after an announcements by the authorities that they will approve the mining of ore by Rio Tinto despite an earlier promise to abandon the project.
President Aleksandar Vucic was quoted by the Financial Times this month as saying that mining could begin as early as 2028 following new guarantees from Rio Tinto.
The demonstrators oppose the mining project that the Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto wants to launch to mine jadarite ore, which is crucial for the production of lithium batteries. The ore, a combination of lithium and boron, was discovered by Rio Tinto in Serbia.
The company said the area holds one of Europe's largest reserves of the ore. Rio Tinto also has said the project would provide thousands of jobs and secure Serbia's position in emerging energy markets.
The deposits were discovered in 2004, but the Serbian government halted the mining project in 2022 after weeks of protests sparked by fears over the environment and public health.
Protesters who spoke with RFE/RL said their concern for the effect of the mining on the environment was the main reason they participated.
"If we stop the source of pollution here, we will stop it everywhere in Serbia,” Vladimir Radosavljevic said.
Milisav Stanimirovic, a protester from Loznica, said that if there is no nature, there is no chance for people to live in the area either.
"We have to preserve what little we have so that we can continue to be born here, to grow here. Clean nature, healthy food, water, everything -- if there is no such thing, there is no us either," he said.