Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić said today that Serbia will benefit enormously from lithium mining, if such a decision is made, and that Loznica and Krupanj will benefit the most.
In Ljubovia, during a conversation with citizens about lithium mining, Vučić said that “at least 900 to 1,000 people will work in the mine and basic preliminary work alone”.
He said that the benefit will be greater if final lithium products are made in Serbia, i.e. batteries for electric cars, and that his request is that at least 87.1 percent of the raw material must be processed in Serbia.
“I do not allow 100 percent of raw materials to be exported, 87.1 (percent) must be in Serbia, it must be processed, and only then what has the highest price can go abroad,” Vučić said in response to citizens’ questions.
He added that he is already “negotiating with many people”, but that preliminary agreements have not been made with anyone regarding the construction of the cathode factory, among which are companies from South Korea, Japan and many others.
Vučić said that “all battery manufacturers are interested in investing in Serbia”, and that there are “several interested car manufacturers”, except for “Stelantis”, which already has its own electric car factory in Kragujevac.
“If we bring one more final producer, who will use our batteries, the salaries will go to heaven, the budget of Loznica to heaven, the budget of Krupnje to heaven,” said Vučić, Beta writes.
