Media outlets campaigning against the Jadar Project have falsely claimed that the Jadar River has flooded the mine’s operational area, presenting this as one of the alleged risks to the project’s implementation.

As clearly shown in the attached photographs and maps, the planned mining site has not been flooded, as it is not located in a floodplain - nor can it ever be, even under a once-in-10,000-year flood scenario. For context, such an extreme event would involve two to three times more water than the 2014 floods that struck Serbia.

The attached map of the project’s central area illustrates a 10,000-year flood probability scenario - the worst possible case. Any area not shaded in blue, including the clearly marked Jadar Project site, can never be exposed to flooding because it is naturally elevated above even the highest possible flood level. Military topographic maps further confirm that the proposed mine site is positioned above the Jadar River valley.

The Jadar Project’s central complex is situated on a natural river terrace, elevated between approximately 139 and 174 meters above sea level, well above the Korenita and Jadar rivers. This ensures safety even under maximum flood conditions. This is also why the Jadar Project does not require flood defence embankments - the worst possible flood surge cannot reach the mine’s planned location.

Rio Tinto has dedicated significant attention to flood protection, designing the Jadar Project with deep respect for nature and natural disasters. Initial studies selected a mine site outside flood-prone areas, and all subsequent research has confirmed this decision. Since 2011, in collaboration with the relevant water institute, six hydrological studies have been conducted, with an update currently underway to reflect the latest site-specific conditions for the mining sector.

Another false claim being circulated is that the tailings storage facility is also at risk of flooding. This is incorrect. The Štavica Valley location was chosen precisely because it is not a floodplain. Štavica sits more than 140 meters above the Jadar River level, eliminating any possibility of flooding. The facility’s protection system is designed to the highest European and international standards, including multi-layer hydro-insulation liners and a drainage system for collecting seepage water, ensuring environmental protection and minimizing any potential risk.

Multiple studies have confirmed that the Jadar Project would not increase flood risk in the Jadar River valley. The latest flood modelling study accounted for projected climate change and concluded that the project would neither raise water levels during floods nor act as a barrier that could obstruct the river and create a flood surge.

All these facts unequivocally demonstrate that claims of flooding at the mining-industrial complex (the project’s central area) are yet another attempt to spread disinformation and panic - a pattern the Jadar Project has continuously faced.