Rio Sava, a daughter company of Rio Tinto in Serbia, hosted a delegation of representatives from European business and professional associations in Loznica, in the Jadar Valley, and in Belgrade. The visit included representatives from 11 organizations and institutions, including Euromines (the European Association for Mining, Metals and Minerals), Eurometaux (the European Association for Producers of Non-ferrous Metals and Recyclers), the International Lithium Association (ILiA – the global professional association of the lithium value chain), as well as the Federation of German Industries (BDI).
The green and digital transition has sparked global demand for lithium. The response of European countries to this is to conduct an analysis of their own resources and consider the possibilities of meeting future needs for critical raw materials to a greater extent from within Europe. The „Jadar“ project represents an opportunity for the development of a modern and responsible world-class mining project. It also has the potential to set new standards for the safe extraction and processing of lithium and boron while also ensuring management and mitigation of potential environmental impacts.
Chad Blewitt, executive director of the „Jadar“ project at Rio Tinto, stated, „As one of the largest and highest quality deposits in Europe, the „Jadar“ project is currently in the spotlight. This visit was a great opportunity to present our activities over the past 20 years, collaboration with the local community and the Government of Serbia, as well as an opportunity to discuss common challenges faced by European countries looking to implement their lithium mining projects and develop their own resources.
During the two-day visit, the group of visitors participated in presentations on the potential economic and social benefits of the „Jadar“ project, as well as the activities we have undertaken to address issues related to environmental protection and waste, land acquisition and livelihood restoration, cultural heritage, community and local economic development, and the need for fact-based dialogue to mitigate the harmful impact of misinformation.
