Tens of thousands of protesters took to the streets in Serbia a few months ago to oppose plans for a lithium mine. What fuels the reactions? Russian disinformation, at least as claimed by Germany and the US.
The project is seen as crucial for European car manufacturers, who rely on lithium batteries for their transition to electrification – an area in which China has made rapid progress. Both Europeans and Americans believe that Moscow wants to undermine the project and are circulating conspiracy theories online.
Lately, Serbian social media has been circulating theories that the mining is not about lithium, but about uranium, others that it will poison the country’s drinking water or rain sulfuric acid on the capital, Belgrade. Mining giant Rio Tinto, which manages the project, refutes all allegations as completely false.
The mine has become an unlikely flashpoint in U.S.-Russian relations. The West is trying to secure the minerals needed for the energy transition by reducing its dependence on Chinese-dominated supply chains. Moscow seeks to maintain influence in a strategically important region, preventing Serbia from cultivating closer ties with the West, analysts told the Wall Street Journal.
After analyzing social media posts and newspaper articles related to the mine, the Global Engagement Center, a State Department office designed to combat disinformation abroad, “finds it highly likely that the Kremlin played a role in spreading this disinformation.” ”. Christopher Hill, the US ambassador to Serbia, told the WSJ that “although there are differences of opinion in the country about the mine, it is clear that Russia has taken the opportunity here to try to drive a wedge between Serbia and the West.”
Germany also believes that Russia is involved in the campaign against the project. “We saw clear signs of the Russian disinformation ecosystem,” said a government official. Russia did not respond to a request for comment.
However, in August, a Russian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that “evil forces” were trying to undermine the Serbian government, which they have done in the past.
A controversial project
The lithium deposit, located near Loznica in the Jadar Valley in western Serbia, about 60 miles from Belgrade, promises to be an important asset for both Rio Tinto and Europe’s access to lithium.
It will produce lithium carbonate, a critical mineral used in batteries for electric vehicles or renewable energy storage facilities. It is expected to produce enough lithium for more than a million electric vehicle batteries annually for at least 40 years.
The Jadar project in 2021 was valued at US$2.4 billion and still requires several approvals. Its supporters point out that it takes 3,500 people to build and 1,300 to operate, and will contribute around 1% directly and 4% indirectly to Serbia’s gross domestic product. However, it was a controversial project from the start, with many locals concerned about air and soil quality, mine waste and other environmental impacts.
Rio Tinto executives acknowledge there are legitimate concerns and say they are trying to address them. CEO Jakob Stausholm flew to Serbia earlier this month to answer questions from the community during a six-hour televised visit.
“It is critical to have a fact-based public debate that allows people to form opinions based on accurate information,” he said.
The project was previously suspended in 2022 when the Serbian government revoked licenses after months of protests and the opposition made it a key issue in the last presidential elections. The Serbian government re-approved the project in July, signing a strategic partnership on critical minerals with the European Union.
The Serbian Ministry of Mines and Energy speaks of “a wave of misinformation” about the project, which it claims will create jobs without endangering public health or the environment.