TRIBUNE IN LOPARE Lithium mining is one of the most destructive forms of human activity for the environment!

(Patria) - The hall of the Cultural Center in Lopare was too small yesterday to accommodate all interested parties – over 300 people participated in a public tribune on "Impacts of lithium mining on the environment and communities".

The tribune, organized by the Ecological Association Eko Put, with the support of the Eko BiH network, was held on December 10, 2023, on International Human Rights Day. Participants in the tribune included academics, activists from environmental and other associations, residents from endangered local communities, as well as the movements and organizations Guardians of Ozren, the Alliance of Ecological Organizations of Serbia, associations from the Eko BiH network, and others.

Prof. Dr. Tihomir Knežiček from the Faculty of Mining, Geology and Civil Engineering in Tuzla stated during his presentation that the current projection from November of this year foresees mineral exploitation for the next 50 years.

“Assuming that the estimates of magnesium sulfate, potassium, lithium carbonate, and chlorine are correct – the question of how lithium exploitation will proceed is unclear. There is a very big difference in the effects of surface or underground mining, and if water is used in that process – then it is a catastrophe, degradation of soil and water. Equally important is the question of where this ore will be processed, whether in Lopare or, for example, in China?”, he asked.

Mining represents one of the most destructive forms of human activity for the environment and health. An example is the mine in Bor (Serbia), which is designated as one of the 50 most polluted places in the world, where every fourth resident has cancer. Although many locations in Europe contain lithium, exploitation is planned only in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina within the so-called Vardar Zone (the so-called lithium vein).

The intention of multinational mining companies is clear: they can pursue their goals where human health and the environment are not taken into account – in countries with a high degree of corruption. Dr. Dragana Đorđević, scientific advisor at the Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy in Belgrade, spoke about the problems of lithium mining using the example of the Jadar project in Serbia, in the Drina river basin.

“Our ores are burdened with other harmful substances; it is known that the Jadar project's ore contains arsenic, lead, nickel, and other toxic substances. There are alternative solutions to lithium batteries, such as sodium chloride, but this is not in the interest of mining companies that insist on lithium for profit. To obtain 1 kg of lithium carbonate from the Drina alluvial deposit, which supplies water to 2.5 million people, as much as 23,300 liters of water are needed, and the tailings would be located in the torrential zone of two rivers, where all toxic substances would spill out and cause enormous damage to fields and plots,” stated Dr. Đorđević.

When it comes to the economic aspect, concessions are a huge problem. Everywhere, the municipality as a territorial community is the owner of everything within its territory. If natural wealth is such that it meets the greater needs of the people, then nothing can proceed without the municipality's consent. Our government excludes the local community from ownership, which is unconstitutional and uncivilized.

“Anyone who wants to know what a concession is should look at Africa. Our government in Republika Srpska is 87 times more ruthless towards us than the French are towards their colony Niger when it comes to concession fees. An example is the Mine and Thermal Power Plant Stanari with a 0.15% fee, compared to Niger, which has 13% and where a coup d'état recently occurred precisely because of such a regime. We are giving away our natural resources, which is why all corporations come to take them from us. In Republika Srpska, 70% of people live on debt, instead of from their own production, all because of government loans and borrowing. We must defend ourselves from our own government,” said Dr. Aleksa Milojević, an economic expert from the Institute of Economics in Bijeljina, during his presentation.

Marijana Trbović Petković, a resident of Loznica, a professor and activist from the association Ne damo Jadar (We won't give up Jadar), stated that she was delighted by the huge turnout of citizens in Lopare, with the message that they are there to help and motivate citizens by the example of their own struggle in Loznica against the company Rio Tinto. “If there are people here whose plots are threatened by exploration and exploitation, I will ask you to defend your property at the cost of your lives and not let anyone enter there. It's not just about you, but the public interest of all of us. We could have stayed silent, sold out like others, but when asked where to go, the company didn't give us an answer. They didn't point a finger and tell us where to go, where to move so that pollution wouldn't reach us,” emphasized Marijana.

The mayor of Lopare, Rado Savić, briefly addressed the gathering, stating that “after the environmental impact study is published, and how and in what way it will be done, we, as a local community, will make our decision on everything, and I think that this geological exploration that has been carried out has not caused damage to the ecosystem here in our municipality”.

Citizens of Lopare and neighboring municipalities have the right to say what they think, what they want or don't want in their municipalities. These are problems that, unfortunately, are not being addressed by those in politics, they do not protect us citizens, and when citizens resist and speak out, they are accused of organizing a political rally. This is a classic deception by both the government and the opposition and politicians in general. From this “political” gathering, it was stated that natural resources such as water, forests, and land are the greatest sacred things that we must preserve. If we change the way we use natural resources, we still have a chance to survive. In the end, it doesn't matter who the enemy is on the other side; what matters is which sacred thing is being defended. Here, natural resources are being defended; here, life is being defended.

Snežana Jagodić Vujić from the ecological association Eko put states: “As those directly affected by the ecological and social imbalance of the extractive sector, i.e., the branch of industry involved in obtaining raw materials and fuels through exploitation from water surfaces and land, we have never given any company permission to extract or explore in our communities or to transform our land into sacrifice zones in the name of constant economic growth and profiteering! Therefore, we clearly express our views on the priorities of our society's development, which are: protection of public health as the primary goal above all economic activities, protection of people and property – we do not want further displacement of people from these areas, drinking water and supply are an absolute priority, as well as the protection of nature and biodiversity – without which there is no life!“

We remind you that the Draft Amendments to the Law on Geological Surveys in Republika Srpska, which will be discussed by deputies at the upcoming 7th session of the National Assembly of Republika Srpska on December 12, 2023, completely deleted paragraph from Article 33, which stated that the consent of the local self-government unit on whose territory the exploration area is located is required for approving exploration. In this way, local communities are deprived of the right to decide and express their opinion on geological surveys, simply because they “lack professional qualifications”.

We ask the question: is the government telling us that we are not “professional and competent” enough to live and express ourselves freely in our community as we deserve, but only as they order us to?