Rio Tinto’s Response to Inaccurate Allegations Regarding the “Jadar” Project, Published in the Article Entitled “Irresponsible Mining Undermines Serbia-EU Relations” in the 5 May 2025 Edition of CorD Magazine
Rio Tinto is compelled to respond in order to provide the public with truthful and accurate information, following a number of false and tendentious statements made by Academician Slobodan Vukosavić in relation to the “Jadar” Project, as presented in the article “Irresponsible Mining Undermines Serbia-EU Relations”, published in the 5 May 2025 edition of CorD magazine.
Rio Tinto categorically denies Vukosavić’s assertion that “peer-reviewed and published studies by independent experts indicate that the ‘Jadar’ Project would endanger water supplies for 2.5 million people in Serbia, affect agricultural activity, result in displacement of local populations, and create environmental refugees.” Vukosavić refers here to a single study rather than multiple papers, and that particular paper, authored by a group of researchers, was significantly revised at the request of the publisher and peer reviewers due to numerous and evident factual and methodological deficiencies. As a result, the conclusions presented in the paper are scientifically questionable.
The most comprehensive scientific research ever conducted in Serbia for a mining or industrial project demonstrates that all emissions at all stages of the “Jadar” Project would remain within, or well below, the limits set by the highest environmental protection standards of the Republic of Serbia and the European Union. These scientific studies confirm that the “Jadar” Project could be implemented safely, without endangering water resources, land, air or biodiversity – in direct contradiction to Vukosavić’s claims.
Assertions that “the water supply for as many as 2.5 million citizens will be threatened” are entirely unfounded. The “Jadar” Project has been designed to avoid any risk to existing or potential future drinking water sources used by the local population. The water protection studies carried out to date indicate that the project is feasible, with water regime impacts remaining within the highest standards as prescribed by Serbian and EU legislation. The development of the “Jadar” Project in terms of water management is fully aligned with the Water Management Strategy and the Water Master Plan of the Republic of Serbia. A key characteristic of the “Jadar” Project is that underground mining would be carried out at depths ranging between approximately 370 and 650 metres – in a hydrogeologically isolated zone, separated by impermeable layers from the water sources currently tapped by shallow wells. Years of research and collected data indicate that deep groundwater and shallow alluvial aquifers are hydrogeologically separate. All wastewater from the mine would be treated using proven technologies to a standard equivalent to the water quality of the Jadar River. Moreover, Rio Tinto was the first major mining company to adopt the highest standards of sustainable water management, voluntarily committing to the public disclosure of water use data for all its operations – recognising that water is one of the most valuable resources both nationally and globally.
Rio Tinto also unequivocally refutes the unfounded claims that the “Jadar” Project would “lead to population displacement and create environmental refugees”. This is part of a persistent false narrative concerning alleged mass displacement in relation to the “Jadar” Project, which continues to be propagated by irresponsible individuals and organisations. The truth is that, to date, 157 people have voluntarily relocated as part of the “Jadar” Project, and if the project were to be implemented, only one additional household would require relocation. Should the project go ahead, local residents would be able to continue with their everyday activities, including agriculture and tourism, without interruption. It is projected that the implementation of the “Jadar” Project would contribute to population growth and reverse the trend of depopulation that has, according to official statistics of the Republic of Serbia, affected the region for decades.
Rio Tinto feels compelled to address several problematic assertions made by Academician Vukosavić, particularly the claim that “environmentally acceptable mining is too expensive, which is why the EU seeks to ‘export’ its environmental issues to other countries (Congo, Morocco, Serbia), where environmental protection, water management, human rights and labour conditions are significantly weaker than in the EU”.
By stating that “environmentally acceptable mining is too expensive”, Academician Vukosavić implies that such practices would not be implemented in the case of the “Jadar” Project—an assumption that is both incorrect and entirely unfounded. As early as 2021, the initial investment in the “Jadar” Project was valued at no less than €2.55 billion, which would constitute the largest single foreign direct investment in the history of Serbia. This investment foresees the implementation of all necessary environmental protection measures, ensuring that emissions across all phases of the project remain within, or well below, the limits prescribed by the highest environmental standards of both the Republic of Serbia and the European Union.
Such claims are particularly unfounded given that the commercial success of the “Jadar” Project hinges directly upon adherence to the highest environmental protection standards. According to EU regulations, from 1st February 2027, every industrial and electric vehicle battery sold in the EU must be accompanied by a “battery passport”—a digital certificate allowing buyers to verify the origin of materials used in battery production. These certificates must also confirm that the raw materials have been sourced responsibly. The EU and potential buyers will not procure materials extracted in ways that negatively impact the environment. Consequently, the automotive industry’s lithium supply chain is subject to the strictest third-party scrutiny, involving detailed analyses of the environmental safeguards applied by the producer. The EU’s stringent regulatory framework will therefore apply in full to the “Jadar” Project, as Serbian lithium and products derived from it will otherwise be excluded from the European market.
Academician Vukosavić’s anti-EU narrative, most notably the statement that “the EU seeks to export its environmental problems elsewhere”, was categorically contradicted by the European Commission’s decision of 24th March to adopt a list of 47 strategic projects in the field of critical raw materials. Among these, 22 pertain to lithium, including seven hard-rock mining projects within EU member states—projects directly comparable to “Jadar”. This fact alone refutes further anti-EU claims made in the article, including the assertion that “the EU encourages the use of Serbia as a raw material base for European industry”—a statement that is again unfounded and inaccurate.
The claim that “upper limit values for certain critical soil and water pollutants have been removed from the regulations, thereby enabling mining with significant pollution while reducing costs for investors and increasing profits” is unsubstantiated and unsupported by any concrete evidence. As is the case for all business entities operating in Serbia, Rio Tinto is obliged to comply with current legislation, which in the field of environmental protection is broadly harmonised with EU standards. In addition, Rio Tinto aligns its operations with the most rigorous global benchmarks, including those set by the International Council on Mining and Metals (ICMM), the International Finance Corporation (IFC), and its own internal policies. The company adheres to the “more stringent standard” principle, meaning that if, for example, IFC requirements exceed those of domestic legislation, the stricter standard is adopted in project planning and monitoring. In this context, we invite Academician Vukosavić to make a constructive and professional contribution to the development of the “Jadar” Project by providing his expert assessment of the proposed emission and immission threshold values.
The statement that “estimated damage compensation and remediation costs would far exceed the investor’s gross income” is not only entirely baseless and inaccurate, but also misleading and logically flawed—particularly given that the company would be solely responsible for covering any damages resulting from environmental harm.
Should the “Jadar” Project be implemented, Rio Tinto would be legally obliged to continue monitoring the environment even after the mine’s closure—just as it would during the project’s implementation and the operational phase of the mine and processing facility. The project explicitly and legally stipulates that a water treatment plant will be operated and financed by the company for at least 30 years following mine closure.
Furthermore, the mine closure plan includes the covering, sealing, or revegetation of tailings and storage facilities, together with land rehabilitation and restoration. In the event of any detected degradation in environmental quality, the company would be obliged to take corrective action. Additional environmental control and mitigation models are also planned, to be considered in collaboration with the local community.
Academician Vukosavić’s assertion that the “Jadar” Project would offer “no significant financial benefits for Serbian citizens” is equally unfounded. From an economic perspective, the project would provide numerous advantages in terms of national and local revenues, in direct contrast to the conclusions of an unverified and pseudo-scientific study cited by Academician Vukosavić. It is estimated that Serbia would generate over €180 million annually from taxes and royalties—approximately 1% of the national budget. The Municipality of Loznica would receive almost €25 million per year from taxes and levies, effectively doubling its budget and enabling investments in infrastructure, services, and the overall quality of life for its residents. Taking into account indirect and induced effects, the expected contribution to GDP across related industries is estimated at €1.9 billion—over 3% of Serbia’s current GDP. The “Jadar” Project also has the potential to attract further investments, including cathode and EV battery manufacturers, and possibly even electric vehicle production itself. According to economic studies, such investments could generate over 20,000 jobs—many of which would be highly skilled. A detailed, independent analysis of the economic impact of the “Jadar” Project is publicly available.
Rio Tinto must also categorically refute the claims made by Academician Vukosavić regarding allegedly “biased studies on the feasibility of mineral exploitation, tailored in advance to produce favourable outcomes”. These statements unjustly disparage the work of independent experts engaged in accordance with Serbian law to conduct Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for the “Jadar” Project. The legal framework in Serbia explicitly requires investors to fund these studies by hiring qualified independent professionals and relevant institutions—a practice aligned with the best standards observed in highly developed countries such as the United States and EU member states.
The EIAs, which Academician Vukosavić arbitrarily dismisses as “unfounded”, are in fact based on comprehensive research carried out by more than 100 independent domestic and international experts, including 40 university professors from over 10 faculties. These studies assess the baseline environmental conditions at the project site, identify potential impacts, and propose detailed mitigation measures to ensure all impacts remain within legal thresholds. They are grounded in over 23,000 biological, physical and chemical analyses of soil, water, air and noise.
It is important to emphasise that the “Jadar” Project remains in the development phase, with additional field research forming part of the upcoming steps. The final versions of the EIAs will be submitted through a formal process to the competent authorities and made available to both expert and general audiences. The fact that Academician Vukosavić has already expressed a predetermined negative opinion of these studies calls into question the objectivity and scientific rigour of his approach.
By claiming that “objective science” can yield only negative outcomes, Academician Vukosavić not only undermines his peers and the legal framework of the Republic of Serbia, but also the very essence of science and scientific inquiry—thus rejecting the notion of progress in science and technology.
Finally, despite Academician Vukosavić’s claim that “the United States is abandoning lithium in favour of alternative technologies”, the actions of the U.S. government suggest the opposite. The administration of Donald Trump expedited permits for 20 strategic mining projects, including several lithium mines. At the same time, the United States signed agreements with Saudi Arabia and Ukraine in the field of critical minerals, securing stable sources of key raw materials—primarily lithium—in response to the growing demands of the electric vehicle industry and the ongoing energy transition. The claim that “these changes are already significantly influencing the development plans of major manufacturers” is also inaccurate. General Motors has demonstrated confidence in lithium as the most important raw material for e-mobility by investing nearly one billion dollars in the Thacker Pass lithium mine in Nevada. The same project received a $2.26 billion loan from the previous U.S. administration, marking the largest-ever federal investment in lithium mining.
Rio Tinto is compelled to note that Academician Vukosavić has presented a series of personal opinions in his article without offering a single piece of evidence, data, or scientific or otherwise credible illustration—drawing predominantly from pseudo-scientific sources.
For several years, the “Jadar” Project has been the target of a sustained negative campaign, characterised by the dissemination of false information and inaccurate claims and conclusions by certain members of the expert community and media outlets, thereby misleading the public.
Rio Tinto remains committed to dialogue with all interested stakeholders, grounded in scientific facts and expert analysis. We hereby invite the public to seek information from credible sources and to participate in a constructive discussion based on scientifically validated facts.
Chad Blewitt
Project Director, “Jadar”