The President of Republika Srpska, Milorad Dodik, has stated that lithium ore will not be exported from Srpska. Instead, any discussion on this subject must primarily involve processing plants. He also emphasized that everything must be done according to environmental standards.
“Today, it is evident that lithium is one of the most valuable minerals needed by humanity. If the shift towards the use of electric cars continues, the issue of batteries must be resolved. Lithium is one of the essential elements, not just for this. Negative examples in third countries, where the wealthy come and devastate everything, show that this is bad. It doesn’t mean it will be the same here. We will not give anything in concession to anyone,” Dodik said.
He highlighted that the international community has suddenly started arguing that Republika Srpska should be stripped of its property.
“The question is whether it would be Murphy’s (the US ambassador to BiH) jurisdiction to hold a meeting. I think it wouldn’t. I think they are acting on behalf of those who want to prevent anything from being done until they gain control over it. Then they try to change this government and bring in those who say, ‘what can we do, we must give it to them.’ No, we won’t give it to them. Whoever I talk to, I say we must be involved halfway. It’s our natural resource. It’s not just lithium; other valuable materials lacking in Europe and America have been found at that site. Europe imports complete quantities of magnesium, and just at that location, there are 95 tons of magnesium ore. When we talk, we say we are aware of it. You won’t be able to import ore from us. It has to be completely up to environmental standards. We will ask the people what they want to remain here after this, but before that, processing plants will be built. If not, they won’t get it,” Dodik said.
He insisted that processing plants are a condition for any lithium exploitation. Dodik mentioned that the euphoria from Serbia is being transferred to Republika Srpska, citing the Stanari Thermal Power Plant, which was said to pollute the environment.
“They wouldn’t have been given a permit if they polluted. It’s a development opportunity that we shouldn’t miss. When it was about Stanari, it was said they have technology that prevents pollution. Far below the minimum standards allowed in Europe. And so it happened. Has anyone spoken about pollution in Stanari in the last 10 years? Why were they yelling before? You see there’s a solution, and there’s a solution for this too,” says Dodik.
He added that people living there have a constant problem with landslides.
“They want to move to a more stable place. None of them will be relocated and be impoverished. But the big question is, what does Vukanović from Trebinje have to say about it? What does Crnadak, Miličević know? We will engage experts for these jobs, and nothing will happen there until a consensus is reached with the local population,” Dodik said.
He also mentioned individuals from Belgrade coming and imposing an atmosphere. He states that these are people paid by foreigners, who have meddled in Serbia and now want to do the same in Republika Srpska, according to Dodik.
“They want to keep any activities at bay until they can put it in the hands of foreigners, as the PDP wants. Whether they understand or not, I do not know. That’s a different question. We are conducting a sovereign policy on this matter. There will be no pollution, no one will be dragging the ore away. There, the ore must be processed. To have employment effects, production, raising the GDP. The other day they talked about how there are no factories, and now when you take something to work on, it cannot be done. Who still believes their intentions are correct. Where are their responses to essential national issues? We haven’t seen them active around January 9th,” Dodik concluded.
Source: RTRS
