Serbia wants further talks with the mining company Rio Tinto about the lithium mining project, the country's president Aleksandar Vučić said on Wednesday in Davos, adding that there should be more public discussion on whether it should continue.
In January 2022, Belgrade revoked licenses for the $2,4 billion Jadar project in western Serbia after massive environmental protests. If completed, the project could provide 90 percent of Europe's current lithium needs and help make the company a leading producer in the field.
The European Union and the United States of America consider lithium to be a critical element in the production of batteries for electric vehicles and mobile devices.
Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Vučić said he had a "difficult conversation" with Rio Tinto representatives earlier on Wednesday.
"The question before us is whether the company will sue us or not," Vučić told reporters. "I asked them not to take measures to protect their interests."
In 2021 and 2022, Serbian environmental activists collected 30.000 signatures on a petition demanding that the parliament pass a law to stop lithium mining in the country. Green activists have repeatedly warned that mining projects will increase pollution in Serbia, which is already one of the most polluted countries in Europe.
Vučić said he sought assurances from Rio Tinto representatives about environmental standards and said the next government - which is expected to be formed by May, after the December elections - should address the issue.
"(Rio) must offer the cleanest solutions, which could be satisfactory for our people, the highest world standards for nature and the people who will work there," he said.
In an email reply to the Reuters agency, the spokesperson of Rio Tinto stated: "We still believe that the Jadar project... can act as a catalyst for the development of other industries and tens of thousands of jobs for current and future generations in Serbia."
The company is focused on consulting with all interested parties to explore options related to the future of the project, the email added. To boost economic growth and revenues, the Serbian government has offered mineral resources to foreign investors, including China's Ziđina and Rio Tinto.
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