Will the mineral of the future change Serbia’s image After 16 years, Rio Tinto completed geological exploration of Jadarit mineral reserves near Loznica. The world giant has confirmed to RTS that it is continuing work on the development of a new mining and processing complex. The surroundings of Loznica are a unique world site for the new mineral Jadarit, which contains light metals – lithium and boron. Since 2004, Rio Sava Exploration, a subsidiary of Rio Tinto, has drilled three hundred exploration wells over an area of 200 kilometers. For the next eighteen months it will do geotechnical and seismic work and laboratory tests of the mineral found. “To date, Rio Tinto has invested over two hundred million US dollars and implemented around 2,000 tests to develop innovative Jadarit processing technology. Priority is given to achieving long-term solutions for the development of a new, modern and safe greenfield mining and industrial complex “We are doing our best to finish the job in a timely manner in the best interests of both Serbia and our company”, Rio Tinto reports. The government expects the investor to submit to them by the end of July an Expertise on Sailing Reserves, and already early next year they will also request a permit to build a mine. “If all goes in line with that predicted dynamic, that mine could begin operations in 2024 or early 2025. They have just been granted an additional 30 million euros to complete these works. It is one of the sites that, when the exploitation begins, will change the image of Serbia. In the local community, they believe that this investment will drive the development of the entire Podrinje-Kolubara region. The government insists that in addition to the mines and processing facilities, Loznica also has a lithium battery factory. “We are eagerly awaiting the completion of the investigative work and what we expect is that it will embark on a new cycle. So this whole process is until the mine is finally opened, and hopefully then in the second phase and the factory plants as soon as possible, yes employ a large number of people and, of course, on the basis of mine rent and everything else, that this city and our state and how it benefits from it”, says Loznica Mayor Vidoje Petrovic. Jadarit is considered a mineral of the future. It is widely used in the auto, aerospace and missile industries and in information technology. It is estimated that the Loznica site can meet up to ten percent of the world’s demand for highly sought after lithium, RTS reports..