00:00This quiet region in Western Serbia holds the largest known lithium reserves in Europe.
00:08For years, the Jadar Valley has been a focal point of controversy.
00:13Environmentalists fear lithium mining will ruin the natural landscape and contaminate
00:18the groundwater with heavy metals, posing a risk to residents drinking water.
00:25Back in 2021, huge protests forced the Serbian government to back down on plans to excavate
00:32the lithium.
00:33Thousands filled the streets of Belgrade.
00:36Protesters blocked major roads and bridges and won their case.
00:41British-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto had its license to excavate the lithium revoked.
00:50Now that decision has been reversed and Rio Tinto can begin operations.
00:56The company says the mine will create thousands of jobs and produce enough lithium for 1.1
01:02million electric vehicles each year.
01:05The EU wants Europe's electric cars powered by European lithium, as it works to cut emissions
01:12and reduce dependence on China.
01:15And that has produced a change of heart in Belgrade.
01:19Serbia's new deal with the European Union includes a commitment from all sides to uphold
01:24strict environmental and sustainability standards.
01:29But not everyone is convinced.
01:32Protesters have been back on the streets in recent days.
01:35DW spoke to one of the protest leaders, who is a member of the opposition.
01:40Savo Manojlovic accuses the government of ignoring the will of the people.
01:45And he has a clear message for German Chancellor Olaf Scholz.
01:50Majority of Serbia are against this project because there is very clear evidence that
01:55this will be an ecological disaster.
01:58What people really here want, they want democracy.
02:02Our message is Olaf, leave our lithium and democracy.
02:08On the streets of Belgrade, most people we talked to were also sceptical about the project.
02:15Maybe this agreement will be good, but I don't believe in it.
02:19The European Union might provide guarantees for the project, but we're destroying nature.
02:24It will be done here because everything is cheaper here.
02:28It won't be done in Germany.
02:30Protest organizers say they're not giving up their fight, and have pledged to once again
02:35make their voices heard.
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