Rio Tinto: We have not given up on the Jadar project

Stausholm told an investor briefing in Sydney that it is “an amazing asset,” Reuters reported.

“The world needs it, Serbia needs it. We need to figure out how to go about it. The only thing I would say today is we haven't given up,” said Stausholm.

Reuters noted that Rio Tinto said in July that it was "exploring all options" at Jadar as it sought to address community concerns.

Serbian Prime Minister Ana Brnabic recently said that she does not see a chance of reviving the Jadar project, but that she has regrets because the project was a historic chance for Serbia’s development.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic told the Serbian state TV (RTS) on Thursday evening that he loves talking about lithium, that it is very important and that Serbia made a huge mistake by stopping the Jadar project.