This post was originally published on France24
Will Serbia host what is presented as Europe’s largest lithium (and boron) extraction project? The president and government are doing everything they can to ensure Rio Tinto’s investment goes ahead, even if it means discrediting or smearing opponents. However, resistance from the population, driven by ecological concerns as well as suspicions of political corruption, is strong and has been manifesting in the streets for several months. The protest movement is spearheaded by a group of residents in Serbia’s countryside who face expropriation if the mine becomes a reality. Laurent Rouy, Vuk Dapecevic, Aleksandar Cvrkotic and Edward Godsell report.