Rio Tinto is currently working to secure approval for an updated environmental impact assessment (EIA) study and obtain key permits, including an exploitation license, to advance its Jadar lithium project in western Serbia, according to Jadar project CEO Chad Bluitt in an interview with SynNews.
The company initially planned to complete construction of an underground mine by 2026 and begin production in 2027. Bluitt stated that, under ideal conditions, construction could start within the next few years once the updated EIA is approved, public consultations are held, and all necessary regulatory permits are obtained.
The Serbian Ministry of Environmental Protection, responsible for approving the scope and content of the EIA, has not disclosed the current status of the review process. Once the ministry makes its decision, Rio Tinto will have one year to complete the updated study.
If developed, Jadar would become the world’s largest greenfield lithium project, producing an estimated 2.3 million tonnes of lithium carbonate over 40 years, averaging 58,000 tonnes annually. This output would place Rio Tinto among the top ten global lithium producers.
The project has been on hold since 2022, when the Serbian government canceled the spatial plan and other permits due to large-scale environmental protests. Licenses were reinstated in July 2023, triggering renewed public opposition.
Bluitt emphasized that the company’s current focus is on preparing a thorough environmental impact assessment to demonstrate that the project meets stringent environmental and safety standards.
Environmental groups and scientists continue to argue that the project poses significant ecological risks. Bluitt attributed the opposition to widespread misinformation, stating, “Reckless and repeated accusations without evidence caused fear and deliberately misled the Serbian public.” He added that the project’s safety has been confirmed by the most comprehensive scientific studies conducted in Serbia to date.
Supporting this claim, Bluitt noted the European Commission’s recent designation of Jadar as a strategic raw materials project, highlighting that the project will adhere to the highest environmental and human rights standards comparable to those in France, Germany, Canada, and Norway.
The project’s investment value was estimated at €2.55 billion in 2021 and is currently being revised to incorporate updated technical and engineering developments.
According to a 2023 economic analysis, also being updated, Jadar is projected to contribute approximately €695 million annually to Serbia’s GDP—about 1%—and over €180 million to the state budget, also roughly 1% of revenues.
Bluitt highlighted additional benefits, including the creation of 1,300 direct jobs and expected annual local procurement exceeding €300 million. He also mentioned the potential to attract investments in related industries such as cathode, battery, and electric vehicle manufacturing, which could create more than 20,000 additional jobs in Serbia.
