In an op-ed published today in Politika, Rio Tinto’s CEO, Jakob Stausholm, acknowledged the public’s concerns about the controversial “Jadar” project. Stausholm emphasized that the company respects and understands the worries of Serbian citizens and is ready to address any questions that may arise.
He pointed out that there is a significant amount of misinformation and misinterpretation circulating about both the Jadar project and Rio Tinto, claiming that this is part of a well-coordinated campaign to spread disinformation. “This is the first time in our long history that the company has faced such a situation,” Stausholm remarked. He added that the project is causing confusion, concern, and division among the public, with employees even receiving threats and online harassment.
Stausholm reaffirmed his commitment to ensuring that the project will be developed in a safe manner, in line with the highest standards of environmental protection, social responsibility, and corporate governance. He also emphasized that all environmental impact studies will be subject to public review, allowing citizens to provide feedback, questions, and suggestions to improve the studies.
He further mentioned that Rio Tinto is advocating for more public debates, similar to the one held last Saturday in Ljubovija, which was broadcast by local media.
