Yesterday was a watershed moment for the Serbian judiciary.
For the first time in its history, the Serbian judicial authorities took a stand on the issue of geological research on December 8, 2021, by imposing a temporary ban on the company Euro Lithium Balkan’s research work in the Valjevo-Mionica basin.
Euro Lithium Balkan is a subsidiary of the Canadian company Euro Lithium + Borates, to become the primary European partner for the secure and long-term supply of critical raw materials in the twenty-first century.
However, research conducted by the University of Belgrade’s Institute of Chemistry, Technology, and Metallurgy revealed the presence of large amounts of hazardous and polluting substances in the water surrounding the drilling site, resulting in the ban in question.
On the other hand, this event sets a precedent because it is the first time that a conflict exists between the positions of the Republic of Serbia’s judicial body and the Ministry of Mining and Energy, which allowed Euro Lithium Balkan to research Serbia.
Given the significance of this decision for both mining and energy, MPartners Legal Office will closely monitor the situation’s development and, as a result, will become available to all persons interested in issues and opinions in the fields of geology, mining, and energy.
