Rio Tinto strongly condemns the attacks and media persecution directed at independent experts who, in full compliance with the laws of the Republic of Serbia, have contributed to numerous studies, projects, and environmental impact assessments for the Jadar Project.

The targeted campaign against these professionals and the baseless attempts to discredit their expertise constitute a serious violation of fundamental human rights. Such persecution of Serbian citizens sets a dangerous precedent, promoting intellectual conformity and significantly undermining the development of a culture of dialogue and open, fact-based scientific debate.

A vast number of Serbian and international independent experts—including those from national universities, faculties, institutes, research centers, and specialized consultancy firms—have contributed to the research, projects, and studies related to the Jadar Project.

Rio Tinto particularly condemns the unacademic attacks on independent experts by certain colleagues who knowingly mislead the public by incorrectly interpreting the legislation of the Republic of Serbia. The company finds it unacceptable that the Jadar Project is being challenged not through scientifically grounded arguments but through the targeting and discrediting of independent experts, as well as through the media promotion of scientific uniformity, pseudo-scientific claims, and outright fabrications.

Rio Tinto reminds that, under Serbian law, the company is legally required to fund project documentation and environmental impact assessments by engaging experts and institutions that operate with full independence. This process includes multiple layers of expert reviews conducted by independent specialists who are not involved in drafting the studies, as well as a series of public consultations.

Rather than fostering such narratives, what is needed is a well-reasoned, expert-led debate—like the one held at the panel within IRTC25 (International Round Table on Materials Criticality) conference in Ljubljana on February 19. This panel demonstrated that differing and even opposing perspectives on the challenges and opportunities of lithium extraction in Serbia can be discussed in a constructive and fact-based manner. Unlike one-sided narratives, panel participants—including representatives from industry, academia, and NGOs—approached the topic from multiple angles, relying on scientific evidence.

This approach reaffirms that dialogue rooted in facts and sustainable development standards—rather than in exclusive, politically or ideologically motivated positions—is the only viable path forward.