Thousands of people took to the streets of Belgrade to call for an end to a major lithium mining project in western Serbia. Although the EU-supported initiative aims to address a critical resource shortage, environmentalists argue that the environmental costs are too high.

On Saturday evening, tens of thousands of people gathered at major locations in central Belgrade to protest against a proposed lithium mining project in western Serbia. The demonstrators voiced concerns that the project could lead to pollution of nearby agricultural land and water resources.

The extensive project, which involves the British-Australian mining company Rio Tinto, has backing from the European Union and aims to significantly address Europe’s shortage of local lithium sources. Lithium is essential for producing electric car batteries and smartphone batteries.

During the protest, participants waved Serbian flags and chanted slogans such as "You will not dig" and "Rio Tinto, leave Serbia!"

President Aleksandar Vucic’s government has characterized the protests as politically motivated, claiming they are intended to undermine his administration. The government also mentioned receiving a vague warning from Russia about a potential coup, although details were scarce.

Actor Svetlana Bojkovic, speaking at the rally, emphasized that the demonstration was focused on environmental issues rather than political goals, despite the government’s claims of a coup attempt.

Zlatko Kokanovic, a protest leader and farmer from the Jadar region in western Serbia where the mining project is proposed, urged protesters to block two major train stations in Belgrade.

Last month, Vucic controversially reinstated Rio Tinto’s license for what would be Europe’s largest lithium mine, reversing a decision by the previous Serbian government to cancel the project.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, part of a European delegation, visited Belgrade to support the project’s relaunch and to explore potential benefits for Europe.

Currently, Europe relies heavily on lithium imports from the United States and Asia. Serbia, which is pursuing EU membership, faces several challenges, including its relations with Kosovo.

Protesters had set a deadline for the government to cancel the mining project, which passed on Saturday, prompting the mobilization.

If completed as planned, the $2.4 billion (approximately €2.2 billion) Jadar mine could meet 90% of Europe’s current lithium needs and position Rio Tinto as one of the largest lithium producers globally. While both the company and the Serbian government assert that the project will adhere to high environmental standards, opponents remain unconvinced. The environmental impact of mining, despite the mineral's importance for reducing carbon emissions in transportation, is a significant concern.