City of Tuzla seeks to block lithium mining on Mount Majevica
Two weeks after the local authorities and residents of the municipality of Lopare voiced their opposition to plans to open a lithium mine on Mount Majevica, the City of Tuzla sent a similar message. A few days ago, the Tuzla city council adopted a document requesting a ban on the mining of lithium and similar metals within a 40-kilometer radius over concerns for the environment and public health.
In the document, adopted on March 27, the local authorities express concern about the ongoing procedure to grant a concession for a lithium mine at Majevica to Arcore AG, as well as about the agreement between the Republic of Srpska and Hungary on rare earth mining, signed on March 3, 2025.
State authorities urged to initiate an environmental impact assessment
The city council demands an urgent review of the potential environmental impact of these projects on Tuzla and the wider area and calls on the Government of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Council of Ministers of Bosnia and Herzegovina to promptly initiate a procedure to assess their environmental impact, including the potential pollution of groundwater and rivers.
The City of Tuzla demands that the competent institutions of Bosnia and Herzegovina immediately launch an international environmental protection mechanism, including the implementation of the Aarhus Convention, to ensure public participation and prevent any harmful impacts of lithium mining. It also calls on the National Assembly and the Government of the Republic of Srpska to suspend the concession award process until an independent environmental study is conducted.
Neighboring municipalities invited to act together against lithium mining
In the document, Tuzla invites neighboring municipalities to join forces and create a joint plan to prevent lithium mining in the area of Mount Majevica, while also recalling that in September 2024, Tuzla adopted a declaration strongly opposing the lithium mining plans.
The protest in Lopare in mid-March was attended by residents and activists from the neighboring towns and municipalities, including Bijeljina, Banjaluka, Šipovo, Brčko, Fojnica, Maglaj, and Tuzla.
