Jadar, Serbia

Jadar project update

On 20 January 2022, the Government of Serbia cancelled the spatial plan and revoked our licenses related to the proposed lithium-borates project.

There were significant concerns about the potential impact of the mine on the local communities of the Jadar valley and we understand that we need to show that these concerns can be addressed and managed. We are focused on talking with all stakeholders so we can work together to explore all options related to the project’s future. We believe in Jadar, a world-class project with the potential to play an essential role in the transition to a low-carbon future and are working through what this means for the project and our people in Serbia.

We’re a long-term landowner and have made commitments to the community and suppliers. We will continue to honor our obligations despite our permits and licenses being cancelled.

Rio Tinto welcomes the decision of the Constitutional Court in Serbia. We have continued to believe the Jadar Project has the potential to be a world-class lithium-borates asset that could act as a catalyst for the development of other industries and thousands of jobs for the current and future generations in Serbia. We are focused on consultation with all key stakeholders, including providing comprehensive factual information about the project. Independent Serbian and international experts have confirmed the Jadar project can be implemented safely in line with the highest environmental standards.

Jadar is named after jadarite, a lithium sodium borosilicate mineral Rio Tinto discovered in Serbia in 2004, near the city of Loznica in western Serbia.

As one of the largest greenfield lithium projects in the world, Jadar could produce lithium carbonate, a critical mineral used in large scale batteries for electric vehicles and storing renewable energy.

Lithium will play an essential role in the transition to a low carbon economy. The scale and high-grade nature of the Jadar deposit provides the potential for the mine to supply lithium products into the electric vehicle value chain for decades, positioning Serbia as the European hub for green energy and raising the country’s importance in one of the world’s most important technological transitions.

Project overview