Protesters say they fear mining giant Rio Tinto's project will contaminate water sources and endanger public health.
Thousands of people have taken to the streets of the Serbian capital to protest against the resumption of a controversial lithium mine that is supposed to serve as a vital energy source in Europe's green energy transition.
Ahead of Saturday's demonstration in Belgrade, two leading figures in the protest said they were briefly detained by security officials who warned that any move to block roads during the demonstration would be considered illegal.
“We came here today to raise our voice against something that is beyond politics,” said popular actress Svetlana Bojkovic at the rally, where a large crowd chanted “No mining,” among other slogans.
Serbia has vast lithium deposits near the western town of Loznica, where a mining project developed by Anglo-Australian mining giant Rio Tinto has been a perennial political fault line in the Balkan country over its potential environmental impacts.
The deposits were discovered in 2004, but weeks of mass protests forced the government to halt the project in 2022.
But the government recently did a U-turn on the issue following a court ruling last month that said the order to revoke permits granted to Rio Tinto was “not in line with the constitution and the law.”
Days later, the Serbian government gave the green light to restart the project and signed a memorandum of understanding with the European Union that is considered the first step in the development of Serbia's lithium resources.
Lithium is a strategically valuable metal needed for electric vehicle batteries, making it key to helping the automotive industry shift toward greener production.
However, the project remains unpopular among many in Serbia due to concerns that the mine would pollute water sources and endanger public health.
“I am in Belgrade because the survival of life in Serbia is being defended here,” said Slobodan Stanimirovic, 58, from Radjevina in western Serbia, near the site of the future mine.
The protest in Belgrade was the latest in a series of demonstrations held across Serbia after the mine's licenses were reinstated.
Activists and protesters have called on lawmakers to pass a law permanently banning lithium and boron mining in the country.
Reporting from Belgrade on Saturday, Al Jazeera's Jelena Glusac said more people joined the protest against the mining project than in recent demonstrations over other issues, including demonstrations last year following two mass shootings.
“It seems that lithium [mine proposal] “It brought together more people than any other topic,” Glusac said.
Environmental groups said they were prepared to block major traffic arteries in Serbia and engage in civil disobedience if the government refused to act by an August 10 deadline set by activists.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has repeatedly vowed that mining operations will not begin until environmental safety protocols are in place.
