Lithium fever is still shaking Majevica. A new development opportunity or an environmental disaster – this is a question that has divided the public. While some see lithium mining in Lopara as a development opportunity, others fear that they will be forced to leave their centuries-old hearths.
One for, the other against. Both were insufficiently informed – they sought answers from the profession. Ultimately, opinions are divided and feelings are mixed.
“I’m not leaving here, at the cost of my life,” says Zoran Amidžić through tears.
Jovan Jović is against: “The wells are deep, approximately 150 meters, and that’s one artery, deep water – it goes to the Sava and Drina, it’s polluted, if it encounters lead and gas, there are no animals or people.”
“Everyone should accept that. Let the state move forward and Lopare, as a municipality. Because we have no other income than from the mine,” says Milorad Jović.
The mining concession is issued by the entity ministry. They will have to ask the local community for their opinion.
“I am interested in whether lithium can be exploited safely. “I think it is too early to speak because there is no study yet on how the exploitation will be done,” points out municipal mayor Rado Savić.
Apart from the method of exploitation, there is still no answer to the question of whether the processing will be in Lopara, which would cause an environmental problem.
“If the processing would be outside this locality, it means that soil degradation could only occur due to the opening of the mine itself, namely open pit mining, and if it is underground exploitation, there are no negative consequences for the soil,” explains Prof. Ph.D. Tihomir Knežiček, from the Faculty of Mining, Geology and Civil Engineering in Tuzla.
Can one mine bring prosperity and development? What does research and exploitation of lithium mean for natural resources? That’s all ecologists ask. Support also came from neighboring Serbia.
“The goal is not only to defend Jadar, but also Lopare, because according to information from the media – you have the same problem here,” notes Marijana Perković, representative of the Association “Ne damo Jadar.”
The president of the Ecological Association Eko-put Bijeljina Snežana Jagodić-Vujić reminds that the Law on Critical Mineral Resources was passed in the European Union, which includes lithium: “They don’t want to drill on their territory and pollute their nature, they see us as third world countries “.
“The laws are not respected in our country, there is a lot of corruption and it is easy to enter and bribe all levels of government and anyone who is needed in order to achieve the goals. Neither Serbia nor Bosnia and Herzegovina have large amounts of lithium,” claims Dr. Dragana Đorđević, scientific advisor at the Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy from Belgrade.
Let us remind you, whether there is lithium in Lopara has been investigated since 2010. The research is carried out by the Swiss company “ArCore AG”, which received permission for the research from the relevant entity ministry.
