Monday, 10th February 2025

Exploring the Future of Serbia’s Jadar Project

Chad Blewitt discusses the challenges and opportunities of Rio Tinto’s Jadar Project, addressing environmental concerns, economic potential, and the path towards greater transparency and sustainability in Serbia

In this interview with The Region, Chad Blewitt, Managing Director of Rio Tinto’s Jadar Project, addresses the opportunities and challenges posed by the company’s plan to develop one of the largest lithium deposits in Europe. Amid concerns from local communities and environmental groups regarding safety and environmental impact, Blewitt discusses the steps Rio Tinto is taking to ensure that the Jadar Project can proceed in a responsible and transparent manner. He also highlights the potential economic benefits for Serbia while acknowledging the need for ongoing dialogue and cooperation with all stakeholders.

The move towards a greener economy relies heavily on key minerals like lithium. How can this need be balanced to maintain a clean and healthy environment? Are the necessary technologies and regulatory frameworks in place to achieve this balance?

— Mining can and must be safe. That is stipulated by laws and enabled by technology. It won’t even be possible to implement the Jadar Project until we are able to prove with independent studies that it’s possible to open it safely for the people and the environment.

We recently launched that procedure in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Serbia, and we’re awaiting intensive, transparent and inclusive communication based on facts, in which we will show that we have at our disposal technologies that minimise negative impacts on both human health and the natural environment. The experts and general public have already been able to familiarise themselves with this through the drafts of the environmental impact assessment study that we published at our own initiative in mid-June, in a desire to respond with facts to the extensive and longstanding campaign of misinformation.

In what ways would the Jadar Project drive investments, job creation, and economic growth in Serbia? How would it support the economy both nationally and locally?

— The Jadar deposit is of such high quality that it could become a strategically important supplier of this critical mineral and would thereby generate significant economic value for Serbia. The planned investment exceeding 2.55 billion euros would be one of the largest industrial greenfield investments in the history of Serbia. At its full operational capacity, it would yield more than 180 million euros for the state annually from taxes and mining rents, which is approximately 1% of Serbia’s total current budget revenue, while the Loznica budget would be doubled. The project will create 3,500 jobs during the construction phase, while 1,300 jobs will be created during Jadar’s operations, with an average monthly salary exceeding 1,100 euros. If we add the related investments in the production of batteries and electric vehicles that this project can attract, we are talking about 20,000 jobs. That requires a highly qualified workforce, which will result in the development of personnel through collaboration with university colleges.

From your past experiences, what key lessons has your company learned, and how are they being implemented to ensure greater transparency, accountability, and a stronger focus on sustainable environmental technologies?

— We continuously introduce significant changes so that we can improve our approach to the protection of cultural heritage, the environment and our responsibility towards communities. We are dedicated to learning from such situations and applying the lessons learned in all aspects of our operations. Within the scope of the Jadar Project, our aim is to apply the best available environmental practices.

It won’t be possible to implement the Jadar Project until we can prove with independent studies that it’s possible to open it safely for the people and the environment

We will invest over 100 million U.S. dollars in environmental protection, including for a water purification system and the conservation of biodiversity. We will cooperate with the Serbian Environmental Protection Agency and other institutions to ensure transparency and the responsible management of resources.

As electric vehicles become the future, countries like Serbia, Slovenia, and Croatia are slower to adopt compared to the EU. How essential is mining, particularly lithium, for this transition, and what role do you envision for your company in advancing this shift?

— Lithium is a key component of clean technologies like those for electric vehicles and green energy storage in batteries. As such, it is perhaps the most strategically important metal in energy transition. At Rio Tinto, we are aware that our role in this future isn’t only in mineral exploitation but rather also in ensuring that this process unfolds in a way that satisfies the highest environmental and social standards. We are dedicated to collaborating closely with local communities and all stakeholders to ensure that the benefits of this project are distributed evenly. At the same time, we also contribute to broader sustainability and economic development goals.

Serbian President Vučić has urged your company to ensure clean water, protect the health of the Jadar and Drina rivers, and responsibly manage the soil and forests. How can you guarantee these outcomes, and what steps are you taking to meet these expectations?

— The conclusion of the more than 100 independent experts who worked on the drafts of the Environmental Impact Assessment Study is that – with the proposed engineering solutions and mitigation measures – the project can be implemented responsibly and safely, in accordance with the most stringent standards of Serbia and the EU. In tangible terms, we have at our disposal an entire range of technologies with which we will reduce our impact on water, air, and soil to an absolute minimum. For example, all wastewater would be treated to the quality of Jadar’s water. The jadarite processing plant would use scrubber filter technology, which is proven and has been used widely to purify industrial gases for more than 50 years, while multi-layer liners would separate the waste from the soil. All data related to the project’s environmental impact would be made public on the company’s website, which is a practice that we apply worldwide. Furthermore, the competent state institutions would carry out legal oversight of the company’s work. Finally, due to strict European regulations, it wouldn’t be possible for us to sell lithium if we don’t adhere to the highest environmental protection standards.

What steps are you taking to engage the community positively and address their concerns over the Jadar Project?

— We are exerting maximum efforts to accurately and, in an open dialogue, inform citizens about the measures we take to protect the environment. However, this isn’t at all easy because they’ve spent years listening to misinformation and lies about how the project will have catastrophic consequences for the environment and human health. There is also fear among the local population, despite us having had good communication with the community since the outset. Over the last year alone, we have held more than 150 meetings with over 4,500 people. We provide an opportunity for citizens and the media to pose questions and receive precise and scientifically supported answers. We will continue to maintain a dialogue with all stakeholders and the media because we are aware that open communication and the involvement of local communities are crucial to gaining trust and achieving long-term benefits for all.

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