Rio Tinto is preparing to file a compensation claim against the Republic of Serbia worth between €1 billion and €1.5 billion over the halted lithium mining project in the Jadar Valley, according to Dragan Đilas, president of the opposition Freedom and Justice Party.
Speaking on the podcast Dežurni krivac, Đilas said the mining company intends to sue Serbia for costs incurred and lost profits after the government abandoned plans for lithium extraction. He argued that commitments made by senior state officials, including President Aleksandar Vučić and former Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, form the basis of the claim.
Đilas stated that Rio Tinto allegedly received both written and verbal assurances regarding the project’s implementation, stressing that verbal agreements are legally binding in the same way as written ones. According to him, the public is still unaware of the exact guarantees provided by state leadership, which allowed the company to begin exploration, planning, and investment activities.
He further claimed that once the lawsuit is formally announced, the authorities will shift responsibility onto citizens who protested against lithium mining. Đilas rejected this narrative, saying public opposition was clear, with more than 80% of citizens reportedly against the project.
The opposition leader accused the country’s leadership of exceeding their authority and violating laws by promising lithium production to international partners, only to later withdraw those commitments. He warned that Serbia could ultimately bear the financial consequences, potentially amounting to hundreds of millions or even more than a billion euros.
Đilas concluded that the situation reflects broader political risks, arguing that unfulfilled promises to foreign partners could result in additional financial claims against the state in the future.
