Thousands of people in Serbia have protested in Belgrade against plans to mine one of Europe’s largest deposits of lithium – a crucial raw material for electric car batteries.
According to reports from the BBC activists say the mine would cause irreversible environmental destruction to Serbia’s Jadar Valley, where the deposit is located.
A licence granted to mining giant Rio Tinto was revoked in 2022 following widespread protests in the country, but the project was restarted last month following a court decision and government U-turn.
The president has insisted that strict environmental safety protocols will be put in place.