The processing will use a unique technology that has been tested in a pilot plant in Australia. – Excess water from the plant after treatment will be discharged in several phases, in order to achieve the same or better quality than the class of watercourses into which water is discharged at the end of the processing process.
Our plan is for the lifespan of the mine, in which world-class lithium and pine ore will be exploited, to be longer than 50 years. It is an investment worth more than 1.5 billion dollars. It will be one of the pillars of the future, with low carbon dioxide emissions, says Vesna Prodanovic, general director of the company “Rio Sava Exploration” d, in an interview for our newspaper. As it was emphasized at the meeting that Prime Minister Ana Brnabic had with the leaders of this leading international mining and metal group, the “Jadar” project is of exceptional importance for Serbia.
Along with the expectations of great economic effects, the public is growing afraid of the possible harmful effects of this mining and processing complex on the environment. The biggest concern is whether there will be pollution of underground water sources, from which the residents of this area are supplied.
– Strict legal frameworks and standards are applied in the process industry. Accordingly, all measures will be taken, which will be defined by the competent institutions through an environmental impact assessment study. If there is even the slightest risk to which we do not have an adequate technological response, we will not be able to obtain the necessary permits to start the construction of the mine and exploitation – our interlocutor explains.
Specifically, what environmental measures will be implemented?
Before answering this question, we need to explain a few things. The environmental impact assessment is performed during the feasibility study, ie the development phase of the project. This is exactly the phase in which the “Jadar” project has been since August this year. The study is now being prepared, and we are currently working with certified experts and relevant institutions to determine the impacts and define a complete set of measures to be implemented to eliminate or reduce these impacts to the minimum possible, legally permitted measure. When the study is completed, we will have very precise information on both the impact and the protection measures. I emphasize, this study is a publicly available document. When it is finished, an early inspection and presentation will be organized, about which the competent ministry will inform the citizens through the media. Currently, the planned investments in the construction of systems and equipment in the field of environmental protection are more than 100 million dollars. We can expect an increase in investment in this segment in the next phases of the project, after the completion of conceptual and main projects.
What kind of Jadarite processing technology will be applied?
The technology includes the process of preparation of mineral raw materials in order to obtain concentrates (crushing and wet grading, without classical flotation), then dissolution, followed by crystallization of the final products. Processing will take place in a modern plant with a unique, innovative and stable technology that has been tested in a pilot factory in Australia, and developed by a team of leading domestic and foreign experts. As many as 2,000 tests were performed to provide the optimal solution for obtaining the final industrial products, lithium carbonate, boric acid and sodium sulfate. The processing process itself has undergone five independent audits by relevant experts in various fields. This means that our team of experts has improved the previous methods of lithium ore processing and lowered the process temperature from more than 250 to below 100 degrees Celsius, which is a much more environmentally friendly solution.
From which sources will water be used for ore processing?
The project will provide technical water from three sources – treated mine water created by regular drainage of underground mine premises, collection of atmospheric precipitation and from the alluvium of the Drina River – we do not mean the riverbed but the surrounding sediments, ie areas previously devastated by gravel exploitation, and whose resources cannot be used for processing into drinking water. Hydrological and hydrogeological research is underway, which will show the expected balance of water inflow from these three sources. These tests have yet to show whether water supply from the Drina alluvium is possible and feasible. The zone in which hydrogeological research is performed in order to confirm the source of supply, was chosen on the basis of previous research, which was done by the Institute of Water Management “Jaroslav Cerni” from Belgrade.
How much water will be discharged back into the Jadar River?
It is important to note that within the complex of the “Jadar” mine, there will be a state-of-the-art wastewater treatment plant. After the treatment, it will be of higher quality than the water into which they will be discharged. The water that will be used in the processing plant will circulate in a closed system. After treatment, the surplus will be discharged in several phases, in order to achieve the same water quality or better than the class of watercourses into which it is discharged at the end of the processing process. The amount of water that will be discharged into Jadar will not always be the same, and according to currently available data, the maximum amount that can be discharged will not exceed 2,000 cubic meters per day.
According to estimates, how much water will be used in the ore processing process?
Estimated consumption during regular operations is 1.3 cubic meters per ton of product. We produce three products at the same time.
How will the environment be protected from harmful substances from tailings and how will these harmful substances be disposed of?
The waste that will be generated during the exploitation and processing of jadarite will be solid in the form of filter cakes, which will be stacked, leveled and compacted on the landfill using smooth rollers. A certain portion of the total waste, approximately 20 percent, will be used in a mix specifically designed to fill the excavated space in the mine to prevent subsidence of the surface terrain. The content of heavy metals in the waste will be approximately the same as the content present in the soil itself. It will not decompose under the influence of atmospheric conditions, and will have the smell of earth. Although an environmental impact study is underway, we already know the measures we will apply. In addition to the wastewater treatment plant, the landfill area will be lined with impermeable material that will protect groundwater and the surrounding land. There will also be a mechanism for regular monitoring of groundwater and surface water and air quality control. The landfill itself will be successively recultivated by planting different types of plants on the parts where it has reached the planned height – grass and shrubby bushes in order to renew the surface. For the environmental protection measures that are known to us at the moment, an investment of more than 100 million dollars is planned. The rest of the measures, which will be defined by the environmental impact assessment study, will be an additional investment.
Does the company “Rio Tinto” have a strategy to act towards the local population, in order to directly consider all doubts and eliminate fears related to environmental safety?
The company has been present in Serbia since 2004, when the mineral jadarite was discovered. Since then, we have been in constant contact and communication with the locals in the field. Since last year, we have been regularly organizing “open doors” days. Then all members of the local community and all interested parties can talk directly with experts and consultants of “Rio Tinto”, ask questions and learn more about the project, our plans and potential impacts of the project “Jadar” on the environment. So far, we have held 19 “open doors”, which were attended by more than 450 citizens. We talked about the environment, water quality, air, noise impact, biodiversity, spatial plan, cultural heritage and legal-property relations. These events take place in our info-centers in Loznica and Brezjak, which are open with the aim of being available to citizens and available for all topics that may interest them in connection with our business, but also in connection with other needs they may have. We understand that there are concerns of a certain number of locals and that their concern is sincere. We plan to continue and intensify the dialogue and cooperation with the locals. In that spirit, we started the establishment of the Committee for Environmental Protection a month ago. We invited representatives of local communities from the region of Jadar and Radjevina, as well as their experts, to join the committee and monitor the development of the project.
One of the frequent questions is how the company “Rio Tinto” will compensate the owners whose plots will be part of the mine, as well as what compensation will be given to families who will have to move out of the area where the “Jadar” project is being implemented?
The land acquisition program is a sensitive and important issue for all involved. Therefore, our goal is for both parties to be satisfied at the end of the process, and for households to be provided with the same or better quality of life and work compared to those they had before the relocation. In this process, we are guided by the laws of the Republic of Serbia, best global practices, the performance standard of the International Finance Corporation (IFC standard five, the World Bank group), as well as the standards of Rio Tinto, which even exceed the standard of the International Finance Corporation practice, fair compensation and improvement of the living conditions of people who go through the relocation process. The way in which the amount of compensation will be calculated is explained in detail in the document that we shared with all landowners. What we can state publicly is that the company covers the following costs: compensation for land and other real estate on the land at the full replacement price, relocation bonus under defined conditions (relocation within four months or less), additional household fee, tax for transfer of ownership, transaction costs. The land and property purchase program also includes providing support to land owners in resolving property relations, as well as providing support to owners in the process of renewing or improving the sources of livelihood of people affected by land purchase. Plans for the renewal of livelihoods have been prepared together with the households affected by the project through their encouragement to actively participate in the process of defining the plan and express the needs of their household and local community, Politika reports.
