Serbian Court Revives Controversial Rio Tinto Lithium Mine

Rio Tinto received a boost as a Serbian court overturned a government decision revoking its planning permission for a lithium mine. The court deemed the government's action unconstitutional. The Jadar lithium project, if developed, could satisfy 90% of Europe’s lithium needs but faces environmental protests.

Mining giant Rio Tinto hailed a Serbian court ruling on Thursday overturning a 2022 government decision that revoked its initial planning permission to develop a lithium mine in the country.

The Serbian Constitutional Court stated that the government had 'overstepped the limits of its competence' by ruling against the mine's spatial plan permit, calling the decision unconstitutional. If completed, the Jadar lithium project in Western Serbia could meet 90% of Europe's current lithium needs, positioning the company as a leading lithium producer.

'Rio Tinto welcomes the decision of the Constitutional Court in Serbia,' the company said in an emailed statement to Reuters. 'We continue to believe the Jadar Project has the potential to be a world-class lithium-borates asset that could catalyze other industries and create thousands of jobs for current and future generations in Serbia.'

In January 2022, the government revoked Rio Tinto's permit for the $2.4 billion project following environmental protests. Lithium, essential for EV and mobile device batteries, is considered a critical material by major economies.

Despite the court's ruling, several hundred protesters gathered on Thursday in front of the Constitutional Court building, demanding an end to lithium exploration, citing environmental concerns.

(With inputs from agencies.)