The debate over Serbia’s lithium mining potential is more of an “impossible dream” than a realistic development, according to Michael Martens, journalist for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ).
In his latest analysis, Martens stressed that Serbia lacks the political and social capacity to move forward with such a sensitive project, pointing out that the lithium issue is deeply opposed by Serbian citizens.
“The end of the story. President Vučić simply cannot allow this process to continue, and this is nothing new. Since November, it has been clear that lithium projects are unacceptable for the majority of Serbian citizens,” Martens wrote.
The German journalist emphasized that Vučić is trying to preserve his legitimacy amid protests, warning that opening the lithium project would cost him even more support.
“Lithium is a sensitive issue for a broad spectrum of Serbs – young and old, left and right, urban and rural. The politics of this project are simply unfeasible,” Martens added.
He also dismissed the idea that a change of government in Belgrade would alter the outcome, arguing that lithium exploitation would remain politically unrealistic.
“This project will not happen. Some people in Germany still believe the Jadar project will go ahead, but that is completely unrealistic. Serbia would recognize Kosovo sooner than start exporting lithium,” Martens concluded, as reported by N1 and transmitted by Telegrafi.
