GORNJE NEDELJICE: Farmhouses and cornfields dot the gentle, rolling plains of Serbia's Jadar Valley, but underneath the bucolic surface lies one of Europe's largest lithium deposits - the source fuelling the latest round of unrest in the Balkan nation.
In a matter of years, this impoverished corner of Serbia nestled against the Bosnian border could be transformed into one of the industrial engines turbocharging Europe's transition to lower-carbon technology considered vital for a greener future. Violent attacks by masked men against a demonstration in the western Serbian city of Sabac in late November sparked outrage on social media along with accusations the government was relying on hooligans to squash dissent.
The area nearby is also home to extensive borate reserves needed for the production of solar panels and wind turbines. Rio Tinto has sought to allay rising fears over the project, promising to uphold the"highest environmental standards", according to a statement posted online.In recent years, the mining giant has been mired in controversy, with a public backlash and investor revolt forcing the company's chief executive and some top officials to step down after the firm destroyed a sacred indigenous site in Australia last year.
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