Nearly two thousand people gathered in the town of Loznica in Western Serbia on June 28 to protest against the controversial Rio Tinto lithium mining project, expressing fears that its development could cause significant environmental damage.

Serbia's government is posied to grant Rio Tinto the approval to develop Europe’s largest lithium mine, two years after the project was shelved due to widespread protests over environmental concerns. In a significant political reversal, President Aleksandar Vucic indicated on June 16 that the government is now preparing to greenlight the project, claiming it is essential for Serbia’s economic development.

Despite new assurances from Rio Tinto and the EU that the project is safe and adheres to the highest environmental standards, lithium mining remains deeply unpopular in Serbia and has faced persistent opposition from environmentalists, who argue that it could exacerbate Serbia's existing pollution problems.

On June 28, protestors gathered in Loznica and demanded that Serbia's parliament pass a law banning geological research and exploitation of lithium within 40 days. Green activist Marijana Petkovic warned, "If they fail, on the 41st day we will block Serbia, we will block key points, railroads ... and that's only the beginning."

Vucic responded to the protests on the evening of June 30, alleging that foreign entities were behind the opposition. He pointed out the irony of protesters using lithium batteries in their mobile phones and suggested that those who oppose lithium mining are hindering Serbia’s progress.

Environmental groups, however, have vowed to continue resisting, saying that Serbia’s future lies in sustainable development rather than potentially harmful mining ventures. As the government moves closer to reapproving the project, it risks reigniting mass street protests which swept the country in 2021.