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.

Related: In push to mine for minerals, clean energy advocates ask what going green really means