Critical raw materials: How big is China's chance for lithium in Serbia?

A new parliament will be elected in Serbia this weekend. The outcome could be crucial for a lithium deposit. The EU has classified the project as strategic - but is facing a dilemma.

Dusseldorf. The European Union (EU) actually had great ambitions for Europe's largest lithium deposit in the Serbian Jadar Valley. The project is one of 13 raw materials projects that the EU classifies as strategic - and to which it assigns special priority.

But according to the British-Australian operator Rio Tinto, the project has effectively been dormant since the end of 2025. It will be “transferred to care and maintenance,” writes Rio Tinto upon request. There are no new developments.

The Serbian government and the EU, which jointly pushed the project forward, have also been noticeably quiet recently. That could change soon: Serbia will elect a new parliament this weekend.

Former President Aleksandar Vucic pushed through early elections after pressure grew on him. After resigning as President, he now wants to retain his power as Prime Minister. He should not have run for president again.

The election outcome could have consequences for the lithium project. Marina Vulovic, Western Balkans expert at the Science and Politics Foundation (SWP), sees potential for a new attempt to start: “If Vucic wins the parliamentary elections, he could try to get the project going again.”