Rio Tinto Backs EU Decision to Accelerate Strategic Lithium Projects
The European Commission's initiative highlights the importance of lithium for the energy sector and industrial development.
Rio Tinto has expressed support for the European Commission's decision to identify 47 strategic projects involving critical raw materials, emphasizing the significance of lithium in the energy sector and industrial development.
The announcement reiterates the EU’s commitment to the exploitation of strategic resources within its borders.
The Commission’s actions are portrayed as a rebuttal to criticisms claiming a neo-colonial approach towards lithium resources in Serbia.
Rio Tinto, which operates in the region, characterized these claims as part of a disinformation campaign against lithium extraction.
According to Rio Tinto, the prioritization of lithium projects indicates a clear commitment from the EU to ensure sustainable resource management as a global imperative rather than focusing on isolated instances.
Out of the 47 strategic projects identified, 22 pertain to lithium, with seven specifically related to hard rock lithium mining, comparable to the company’s Jadar project.
Lithium is essential for manufacturing batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage solutions from renewable sources, thus playing a critical role in achieving the EU's climate and energy targets.
Rio Tinto has submitted the Jadar project for consideration as part of the Commission’s strategic project initiative, which was launched last year under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).
This initiative aims to enhance the supply chain for electric vehicles in Serbia and Europe while adhering to high environmental and regulatory standards set by both the European Union and Serbia.
Chad Bluit, the director of the Jadar Project, reaffirmed the company's support for the EU's decision to expedite strategic project development, underscoring a commitment to responsible practices throughout the selection process for projects outside the EU. He emphasized that no further steps will be taken in the project's development until its environmental and health safety are demonstrated through transparent and legally mandated processes.
The announcement reiterates the EU’s commitment to the exploitation of strategic resources within its borders.
The Commission’s actions are portrayed as a rebuttal to criticisms claiming a neo-colonial approach towards lithium resources in Serbia.
Rio Tinto, which operates in the region, characterized these claims as part of a disinformation campaign against lithium extraction.
According to Rio Tinto, the prioritization of lithium projects indicates a clear commitment from the EU to ensure sustainable resource management as a global imperative rather than focusing on isolated instances.
Out of the 47 strategic projects identified, 22 pertain to lithium, with seven specifically related to hard rock lithium mining, comparable to the company’s Jadar project.
Lithium is essential for manufacturing batteries used in electric vehicles and energy storage solutions from renewable sources, thus playing a critical role in achieving the EU's climate and energy targets.
Rio Tinto has submitted the Jadar project for consideration as part of the Commission’s strategic project initiative, which was launched last year under the Critical Raw Materials Act (CRMA).
This initiative aims to enhance the supply chain for electric vehicles in Serbia and Europe while adhering to high environmental and regulatory standards set by both the European Union and Serbia.
Chad Bluit, the director of the Jadar Project, reaffirmed the company's support for the EU's decision to expedite strategic project development, underscoring a commitment to responsible practices throughout the selection process for projects outside the EU. He emphasized that no further steps will be taken in the project's development until its environmental and health safety are demonstrated through transparent and legally mandated processes.
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