They want the lithium.
January 2022: "Skullduggery In Serbia"December 2022: "Will Europe's Largest Lithium Deposit Ever Be Developed? A View From Serbia"
January 2023: "The Inside Story of Europe’s Weirdest Crypto Mining Boom"
And from Balkan Green Energy News, November 15, 2022:
InoBat from Slovakia signed preliminary agreements with the Government of Serbia on the construction of a gigafactory that would manufacture and recycle batteries. The firm counts Rio Tinto among its investors, so activists from the SEOS environmentalist group said they would relaunch protest rallies that started more than two years ago against the mining giant’s lithium project in the country.
InoBat Auto, based in Bratislava, said it has signed protocols and declarations of intent with the Government of Serbia for the construction of a gigafactory for the manufacturing and recycling of battery cells for electric vehicles and stationary energy storage. The firm pointed out it is one of European countries that it is considering for the project.
“If finalized, the relevant Serbian authorities will work with InoBat to secure all of the permits and licenses required for the sustainable construction and operation of the gigafactory. The Serbian government will also provide financial and material support to ensure the successful development of the facility. InoBat has already established its Serbian subsidiary, InoBat Auto Beograd,” the announcement adds.
Serbia reportedly commits to EUR 419 million in state aid
The startup said that Serbia offered financial and material support. According to Reuters, the government has agreed to provide funding of up to a stunning EUR 419 million, including grants and tax incentives. Strangely enough, the government in Belgrade didn’t publish any information about the potential deal.The Government of Serbia offered no details on the agreements announced by InoBat
Nevertheless, InoBat quoted Prime Minister Ana Brnabić as saying that the preliminary agreement “is an important milestone” that would position Serbia “as a great contributor to sustainable and green future and among leading European players” in the strategic sector.
“We will continue to work resolutely on further development in order to create an [sic!] even better conditions for the well-being of both our citizens and everyone who lives and does business in Serbia,” she stated, according to the Slovakian company.
Deal brings Rio Tinto controversy back into spotlight....
Although the story of why the deposit has not been mined is complicated (see links in intro if interested), one thing is certain, these resource-rich little countries want to be left with something much higher up the value chain than just a hole in the ground.
Related, January 23: "Get ready for a new wave of resource nationalism"
