Due to lithium mining, mass protests in Australia, Argentina, Chile…

29.07.2024. / 13:54

BANJALUKA – Mining of lithium and its harmful effects on the life of the population near the mine, on the environment, water and the great pollution it produces, have become a key topic through which the (justified) fears of citizens for bare survival and political structures crying out for fresh money and by retaining power.

Citizens and numerous activists in Serbia have been fighting against lithium mining planned by the British-Australian company Rio Tinto for more than two years, organizing protests and very loudly warning of the ecological disaster that threatens them if mining is allowed near the Drina river.

The Government of Serbia previously suspended the project, but announced plans for its revival, which caused a strong reaction from citizens and their announcement that they will close the roads again if it is not abandoned. Environmentalists loudly claim that mining could worsen the existing problems with pollution in Serbia, and lead to the complete emigration of the population from the most fertile part of Serbia.

Protests against the mining of dirty lithium in Serbia are not new, because citizens and activists are also fighting against it in other countries of the world.

We investigated how mining companies were welcomed by citizens of other countries where lithium mines were opened. Mass protests in past years have rocked Chile, Argentina and Australia, as well as Asian and African countries, all fueled in turn by fear of the impact on the environment.

Protests in Chile have been going on for more than a decade

In Chile, large protests were organized in indigenous communities, especially the Atacama people, who blocked roads to lithium mining sites. These protests coincided with national demonstrations against the work of the country’s government. Protests in Chile have been going on for more than a decade, especially among the Atacama people. From 2022-2023. In 2010, protests intensified as demand for lithium increased with the global push for electric vehicles.

Atacama communities claim they have not been consulted about mining activities on their ancestral lands, which they say have led to adverse consequences for their environment and culture. They are loudly demanding consultation and respect for their rights, stressing that the lithium mining process consumes large amounts of water, exacerbating local problems and shortages.

The Chilean government has taken some steps to respond to protests against lithium mining, but indigenous communities remain unhappy with the response: In January 2024, protesters agreed to end demonstrations blocking access to the Atacama salt fields after the mining ministry promised a visit by President Gabriel Borić to the area, although no time frame has been set for the visit.

Chile has ratified ILO Convention 169, which obliges the government to consult indigenous communities before mining projects on their ancestral lands. However, indigenous groups claim they have never been properly consulted on lithium mining decisions that affect them.

The government has approved lithium mining projects such as Minera Salar Blanco, but activists have managed to delay the start of mining through the appeals process, arguing that indigenous rights have been violated due to a lack of free, prior and informed consent.

Indigenous groups have also filed lawsuits against the extension of mining licenses before the Chilean Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the International Court of Human Rights.

In Argentina, protests have turned violent

In Argentina, protests began in 2010 and continue to this day, mostly in the Puna Plateau area, Jujuy province. The local population has been protesting against lithium mining since exploration activities began. They expressed concern about the environmental impact of lithium extraction, particularly with regard to water scarcity in the already arid region.

They claim that mining operations threaten their land, water and cultural heritage. Demonstrators set up roadblocks and organized marches on Buenos Aires to voice their concerns.

In June 2023, there was a large protest after the adoption of the new provincial constitution in Jujuy. This constitution was seen as facilitating lithium mining by stripping indigenous communities of their land rights and limiting their ability to protest.

On June 16, protests turned violent when police clashed with protesters, resulting in injuries and allegations of police brutality.

Hundreds of people protested in San Salvador de Jujuy, chanting slogans against lithium mining. Last August saw the “Malón de la Paz” (Third Indigenous Strike for Peace), where over 1,000 representatives of various indigenous communities marched in Buenos Aires to express their opposition to constitutional reforms and the expansion of lithium mining.

Protests on all continents

There have been protests against lithium mining in various countries of the Asian and African continents, namely in Indonesia and India, Zimbabwe and other countries. Protests were organized due to the intention of large corporations to mine lithium, and in all communities activists cited identical reasons: environmental impact, pollution, unecological land use, water depletion and lack of consultation with the indigenous population.

Aboriginal people don’t want a mine

In Australia, protests against lithium mining have occurred primarily in response to concerns about the environment and the rights of local communities, particularly indigenous groups. They started in 2010 and continue to this day, especially in Western Australia and Queensland.

Indigenous communities are concerned about the impact of mining on their land and water resources. In 2021, there were significant protests in Western Australia against the opening of a lithium mine at the Yuukan Gorge Aboriginal Heritage Site.

Although this protest was specifically about another type of mining (iron ore), it highlighted broader concerns about mining practices and indigenous rights, which also apply to lithium mining. Two years ago, environmental groups organized protests against lithium mining projects in various states, emphasizing the need for sustainable practices and protection of local ecosystems. Activists have raised an uproar over water use, land degradation and the potential impact on biodiversity.

Last year, protests continued over new lithium mining projects.

They plan to open 70 mines in the USA

Lithium is a key component of batteries, including those that power electric vehicles. Australia is the largest producer of lithium in the world, followed by Chile and China. Countries such as Thailand, India and Argentina have recently discovered “white gold”, joining the race to exploit lithium.

The US, although rich in untapped lithium reserves, is an importer of this metal and currently has only one active commercial lithium mine – Silver Peak in Nevada. In November of last year, ExxonMobil announced plans to set up a lithium mining facility in Arkansas and become the leading supplier of lithium for electric vehicles by the end of the decade. This is one of more than 70 new lithium mines proposed for federal approval, documented by the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism at ASU.

Their Department of Energy has revealed that the Salton Sea region of California contains over 3,400 kilotons of lithium, enough to support over 375 million electric vehicle batteries. They plan to build a lithium and renewable energy facility, despite lawsuits from local environmental groups.

Bosnia and Herzegovina on the threshold of excavation

Although excavations have not yet started in Bosnia and Herzegovina, it is clear that there are potential sites in Lopara, around which a lot of dust has already been raised, but also in six other locations where the results of research are still awaited. It is about the mountain Motajica, Prosar, localities in central Bosnia, Čajnič, Foča, Goražde and Srebrenica. In addition to Lopar, research has shown that igneous rocks in the area from Srbac to Foča are also potential lithium deposits.

The Swiss company Arcore and Canadian Rock Tech announced plans for exploitation in Lopara, from where lithium is planned to be exported to Germany to be used in the battery and car industry from 2026.

Environmental impacts of lithium mining and batteries

The process of extracting, processing and assembling electric vehicles, especially their batteries, is environmentally harmful. According to a report by MIT’s Climate Lab, one ton of lithium mined emits nearly 15 tons of CO2. According to the same report, the burning of fossil fuels needed to produce lithium or EV batteries contributes to high levels of CO2 emissions.

A recent investigation by the Howard Center found that the desalination process, used to extract lithium hidden in salt water, uses hundreds of millions of liters of fresh water annually. Excessive groundwater pumping can not only reduce spring levels, but also damage surrounding basins and cause cracks in the ground.

“Although the US has better controls on pollution from mining than many other countries where minerals are extracted, it can still be a dirty, destructive process for the local ecosystem. What do we do with batteries after the end of their first life cycle? How can we guide them towards a successful second or third life cycle until they really are no longer useful at all“, said researchers from MIT.

They say lead-acid batteries, the type used in gasoline-powered cars, are easily recycled, with only a small percentage ending up in landfills. On the other hand, only five percent of lithium-ion batteries are recycled each year.

Despite a possible slowdown in demand for EVs and despite the environmental consequences of more lithium mines opening, supply chain issues and the price lithium fetches on the global market – which has risen from around $12,000 per metric ton in 2019 to $46,000 per metric ton in 2023. – will likely result in continued pressure to increase lithium production.

Andrijana Pisarević