First up, from Balkan Green Energy News, January 17:
Vučić: Serbia to reapprove Rio Tinto’s stalled lithium project with EU guarantees
More than two years after revoking most of the permits, Serbia is ready to again endorse Rio Tinto’s lithium mining and processing project, according to President Aleksandar Vučić. In addition to new guarantees from the company for the Jadar investment, the European Union is close to offering commitments regarding the value chain and environmental protection, he claimed.
Rio Tinto never stopped developing its project in Serbia. Even though the government halted the investment in a proposed lithium mine and processing unit in January 2022 amid massive environmentalist protests, President Aleksandar Vučić left the door open for revamping it when the time is right.
The new guarantees from the Anglo-Australian mining giant, combined with the expected commitments from the European Union, are poised to enable a breakthrough, he hinted in an interview with the Financial Times. Vučić expressed confidence that EU leaders would provide assurances on investments in electric vehicle and battery factories.
His demands concern “the whole value chain plus perfect environmental protections,” he was quoted as saying. If there is such a deal, according to Vučić, he expects “business and political leaders” to officially relaunch the project in Belgrade in July. The president went further to estimate that the mine could begin operating in 2028.
Lithium can help Vučić improve relations with West
The Jadar facility could churn out 58,000 tons of lithium per year, Vučić noted and added that it would currently cover 17% of electric vehicle production in Europe – 1.1 million units.The article points out that reapproval of Rio Tinto’s project under the EU’s blessing would signify Serbia’s dedication to the West’s geopolitical stance, as opposed to economic and political initiatives from China, Russia and Arab countries in the Persian Gulf....
....MUCH MORE
Previously on the lithium:
- February 2023: Rio Tinto Continues To Spend Money In Serbia Despite Being Rejected On Europe's Largest Lithium Deposit
- February 2023 "The West Makes Serbia an Offer It Can’t Refuse"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"
- January 2023: "Rio Tinto–backed firm InoBat plans to build battery gigafactory in Serbia"
And from the Swiss German-language weekly Die Weltwoche, May 28:
«Wir laufen in eine Katastrophe»: Serbiens Präsident Aleksander Vucic über Europa, das sich auf den Eintritt in den Ukraine-Krieg vorbereite
["We are heading for a catastrophe": Serbian President Aleksander Vucic on Europe preparing to enter the Ukraine war]
....MUCH MORE, including video of the interview.
All the usual caveats apply. First, we don't know where the truth lies.
Second, President Vučić's government seems to be on good terms with Russia, meaning he could be transmitting a message from Putin rather than speaking his mind.
With those disclaimers, here's an English-language interview where he makes the same points and from which our headline comes. Via Rumble, June 12:
Serbian President Vučić: "There will be a world war in 3-4 months - we are checking the stocks of oil, flour, sugar"
