The deal comes amid a global race to secure access to lithium, a key material for batteries. Serbia is expecting major investments in its controversial mining project. The European Union and Serbia signed a deal on Friday to develop a lithium mining project and production chains for batteries essential for electric vehicles.
However, the mine is also a source of controversy for locals — as is the case for many lithium mines around the world. There are fears that the operation could pollute water supplies and impact the local community. But the deal could also be a major boost for Serbia, especially in terms of its relations with the EU.
Rio Tinto has said Serbia's lithium reserves in Loznica could produce an estimated 58,000 tonnes annually, enough for 1.1 million electric vehicles. During an interview with Germany's Handelsblatt ahead of the Belgrade summit, Vucic said conversations were ongoing with a range of European automakers including Mercedes, Volkswagen and Stellantis.
Serbia's "lithium deal" is coming back as part of an initiative that officials in Brussels, Belgrade and Berlin hope will be a huge green boon for the continent. A rather sudden and under-the-radar meeting took place in Serbia's capital last week.
"Leave lithium and democracy to the Serbian people," said Savo Manojlovic, a leading organiser of the protests against the mine. Protestors also say the country is taking the biggest environmental risks with the mine for the sake of the EU's transition to a green economy.
Germany's Mercedes-Benz (MBGn.DE) is a potential customer of lithium from Serbia and would support bringing more of the battery value chain to Serbia, the company's chief executive Ola Kaellenius said in Belgrade on Friday. "They are building a very modern mine and we are a potential customer.
Serbia, EU and Germany sign battery supply chain deal
Belgrade and the European Union signed a deal on Friday to give the EU access to raw materials mined in Serbia and strengthen their ties on production of sustainable raw materials, battery...
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The European Union and Serbia signed a deal Friday to develop the supply of lithium batteries that are seen as a crucial building block needed to power Europe''s transition to a green economy.
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Rio Tinto has said Serbia''s the Loznica mine could produce an estimated 58,000 tonnes of lithium annually, enough to make batteries for 1.1 million electric vehicles.
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With an estimated 158 million tonnes of ore containing 1.8% lithium-oxide in the newly discovered mineral, jadarite (named after the Jadar region of Serbia it was found in), this deposit, if...
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EU, Serbia sign deal to kickstart lithium battery …
Rio Tinto has said Serbia''s the Loznica mine could produce an estimated 58,000 tonnes of lithium annually, enough to make batteries for 1.1 million electric vehicles.
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Serbia has one of the lowest mineral rents in Europe. While the development of a lithium processing complex would be desirable, it seems that instead, ore extracted in Serbia would be exported unprocessed. Serbia would not make batteries for new electric cars. Nor would those cars be assembled in Serbia. The surplus value would be generated ...
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EU, Serbia sign key lithium deal – DW – 07/19/2024
The European Union and Serbia signed a deal on Friday to develop a lithium mining project and production chains for batteries essential for electric vehicles.
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When will the exploitation of lithium, an element that builds into long-life current batteries and one of the most demanded elements in the world, begin in Serbia? Serbia has the world''s largest lithium reserves. Info portal "Deutsche Wirtschaftsnachrichten" writes about Serbia''s lithium wealth. "Blumberg" reports that Serbia has the largest lithium reserves in …
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EU, Serbia sign key lithium deal – DW – 07/19/2024
The European Union and Serbia signed a deal on Friday to develop a lithium mining project and production chains for batteries essential for electric vehicles.
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