Rio Tinto honours the Serbian Government;s decision to annul the Jadar project

Rio Tinto honours the decision by the Government of Serbia to annul the decree on the "Jadar" project, and the land and facilities owned by the company will continue to be "responsibly maintained", the company stated in its written response to Voice of America.

Representatives of environmental organizations and activists calling for a law permanently banning lithium and pine mining in Serbia, have claimed that Rio Tinto is active in the field around Jadar, despite the government's decision to suspend construction of lithium mines. On January 20, the Serbian Government announced that it was "putting an end" to the "Jadar" project and that it was repealing all administrative acts related to Rio Tinto.

Asked to comment on the allegations by environmental organizations that Rio Tinto continues to buy land, construct pipelines and increase the number of employees in local offices, Rio Tinto replied that it will "responsibly maintain land and facilities owned by the company and manage them in the best possible way, in the interest of the community and the environment ".

- We are also committed to fulfilling contractual obligations to our suppliers, contractors and the local community. Our obligation is to keep all the property owned by the company safe, as well as to continue to ensure the safety of our teams and associates - the announcement by Rio Tinto states.

The company did not specifically answer the question whether they continue to buy land and houses.

The question of whether the company has considered certain legal steps against Serbia, and which ones, due to the the Government decision to suspend the construction of the lithium mine, also remains unanswered.

Immediately after the Government's decree, Rio Tinto announced that it was "considering the legal basis for such a decision and the implications it may have for activities and people in Serbia."

- Our company respects the recent decision of the Serbian Government to annul the Spatial Plan for the development of the Jadar deposit - the company stated in its response to Voice of America.

Environmental organizations, which have been protesting for months demanding from the Government to prevent the arrival of Rio Tinto in the Jadar Valley, are now demanding that the exploitation in Serbia be permanently banned by law.

Authorities have declined the organization's request.

In the meantime, early parliamentary elections have been called for April the 3rd. Environmental activists have announced that the demand for a permanent ban on lithium and boron mining will "await the next government, too", and that they will continue with the protests until that demand is fulfilled, the Voice of America writes.

Rio Sava Exploration d.o.o. Beograd

Rio Tinto Exploration Dunav d.o.o. Beograd

Vlada Republike Srbije

Rio Tinto

Jadar project

lithium

spatial planning

annulment