Rio Tinto is preparing to file a compensation claim against the Republic of Serbia worth between €1 billion and €1.5 billion, claimed Dragan Đilas, President of the Freedom and Justice Party (SSP).
Speaking on the podcast “Dežurni krivac”, Đilas said that the lawsuit would be related to the suspension of the lithium mining project in the Jadar Valley, which he described as a direct consequence of commitments made by Serbia’s current leadership.
Alleged Commitments and Legal Exposure
“According to reliable sources, Rio Tinto is preparing a lawsuit against the Serbian state and will demand compensation of no less than €1 billion for the failure to proceed with lithium extraction in the Jadar Valley,” Đilas stated.
He argued that President Aleksandar Vučić, former Prime Minister Ana Brnabić, and other government officials had formally and informally committed to the project, including verbal guarantees made in front of witnesses, which may now form the basis for Rio Tinto’s legal claim.
Verbal Agreements ‘As Binding as Written Ones’
Đilas emphasized that verbal agreements can be legally binding, warning that the public still does not know the full extent of assurances given to Rio Tinto.
“We realistically do not know what Vučić, in his capacity as president, and Brnabić, as prime minister, promised or guaranteed to Rio Tinto. Based on those assurances, the company carried out studies, testing, and long-term planning,” he said.
According to Đilas, Rio Tinto is now seeking compensation for both incurred costs and lost profits.
Public Opposition Ignored, Citizens to Pay the Price
Đilas rejected any attempt to blame public opposition to lithium mining for potential financial consequences.
“More than 80% of Serbian citizens clearly stated they were against lithium mining. Vučić violated laws and exceeded his authority by promising both Rio Tinto and various European actors that lithium extraction would take place,” Đilas said.
He accused the president of misleading international partners and warned that the financial burden of these actions would ultimately fall on Serbian citizens.
Long-Term Consequences Uncertain
“Every lie and every attempt to appease powerful countries has a cost for Serbia. In this case, those lies may cost us hundreds of millions—or even over a billion euros,” Đilas concluded.
He added that it remains unclear how many similar claims Serbia could face in the coming years, and from which international actors.
