Rio Tinto

https://www.politico.eu/article/serbian-president-aleksandar-vucic-german-chancellor-olaf-scholz-meeting-lithium-deal-electric-vehicles/

Germany’s Scholz set for rare meeting with Serbia’s isolated Vučić to finalize lithium deal
European Commission to also attend signature in Belgrade on Friday
JULY 16, 2024 8:15 PM CET
BY HANS VON DER BURCHARD, ŠEJLA AHMATOVIĆ AND ANTONIA ZIMMERMANN


BERLIN — After years in the diplomatic doghouse, Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić is being catapulted back into the political limelight thanks to the European Union’s — and particularly Germany’s — voracious appetite for the raw materials needed to build electric vehicles.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans to travel to Belgrade on Friday for a surprise visit to attend the signing of a cooperation agreement between the EU and Serbia on importing minerals, including lithium, that are critical for the EU’s digital and green transition, three people with knowledge of the preparations — who requested anonymity since they were not allowed to speak publicly — told POLITICO.

A government spokesperson later confirmed the visit.

Vučić had previously been largely isolated among European leaders due to his controversial flirtations with Russia and China, tensions with Kosovo and accusations of election fraud.

Germany, as the EU’s largest carmaker, has a huge interest in securing lithium — especially within Europe to reduce its dependence on China. It’s unusual, however, for Scholz to make a trip like this on such short notice. His office declined to comment.

Serbia’s government announced on Tuesday that it would restart work on a controversial lithium mining project in the west of the country, following a constitutional court ruling last week that overturned a previous cancellation of the mining operation.

The previous government in Belgrade stopped the project and canceled the licenses awarded to British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto following mass protests more than two years ago.

European Commission Vice President Maroš Šefčovič is expected to participate in the signing ceremony, two of the people POLITICO spoke to said.

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen had been considering joining the trip, but her participation is uncertain given that she still needs win a vote in the European Parliament on Thursday to be confirmed for a second term.

The Commission did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Šefčovič said in May that a lithium deal with Serbia could be finalized “in a short period of time.”

The Jadar mine, near the city of Loznica in western Serbia, holds some of Europe’s largest reserves of lithium. Vučić told the Financial Times last month that the mine, which he expects to open in 2028, would produce 58,000 tonnes of lithium per year. That would equate to 17 percent of electric vehicle production in Europe or 1.1 million cars.

Environmental NGOs and inhabitants of Loznica have warned that the mine’s construction could lead to habitat destruction and water pollution. Many also fear the potential displacement of residents in the area.

Radomir Lazović, co-president of the opposition Serbian Green–Left Front party, told POLITICO that the constitutional court’s approval of the mine was linked to political influence.

“In a country where institutions do not work, elections are stolen, the Constitutional Court works as if on command,” Lazović said, “it is difficult to imagine that the same institutions will protect the interests of citizens when it comes to the environment, and especially such high-risk projects.”

Hans wrote:Vlada Srbije se sastaje

The campaign continues: Germany's leading business newspaper lets Vučić claim "we are loyal to Europe" without any follow-up or contextualization. Merkel's business über alles approach is alive and well. pic.twitter.com/gW1BD8i74S

— Toby Vogel (@tobyvogel) July 18, 2024

Europa steht vor Lithium-Deal mit Serbien

Serbiens Präsident erläutert den Rohstoffpakt mit der EU

Erős Pista wrote:Sta kaze Milica?

Šolc je na zajedničkoj konferenciji za medije sa Šefčovićem i Vučićem govoreći o projektu Jadar rekao da je reč o evropskom projektu.

"Rudarstvo će se ostvarivati uz poštovanje najviših standarda zaštite životne sredine i Nemačka će pomagati u tome", poručio je.

Šolc je izjavio da ima dosta razloga za realizaciju projekta Jadar, navodeći da donosi perspektive razvoja i da će stvoriti nova radna mesta u Srbiji.

"Odluka traži hrabrost, pravimo važan korak, kopanjem litijuma u Srbiji možemo ispuniti naše klimatske ciljeve", rekao je Šolc dodajući "potrebne su nam baterije".

Šolc je na Samitu poručio da je litijum važan za mobilnost u budućnosti, kao što je nafta bila do sada.

Odgovarajući na pitanje novinara kako Nemačka može da garantuje zaštitu životne sredine, Šolc je rekao da je od predsednika kompanije Rio Tinto tražio poštovanje svih ekoloških standarda tokom eksploatacije, navodeći da je dobio garancije za to.

"Standardi o zaštiti klime, životne sredine i biodiverziteta su visoki. Zbog toga sam veoma rano razgovarao sa šefom Rio Tinta", rekao je Šolc.

Takođe je rekao da je predstavnicima Vlade Srbije odgovorio potvrdno na zahtev da Nemačka pomogne u kontroli zaštite životne sredine.


https://www.slobodnaevropa.org/a/srbija-samit-litijum-jadar-vucic-scholz/33042653.html

паће wrote:Ајде пребројте се, колико разних пуњача имате.

Јанош Винету wrote:
Богати се морају обуздати, као и потрошња. Троши се више него што треба. Кинески бродови су наводно 50% светске угљеничне потрошње. Транспорт кинеских ђинђува је превише јефтин на глобалном нивоу. А без тога нема глобализације.

Јанош Винету wrote:ово што тренутно постоји је врхунац постојеће батеријске науке