The online survey “Survey on the lithium mine” (19 November 2020; around 347–353 responses) reveals strong distrust toward Rio Tinto’s project in the Jadar Valley. Although only 6.82% said they had not heard of the company, the overall picture is predominantly negative: 62.21% report having heard “mostly” or “only” negative things, while just 15.34% have a positive impression.
Awareness of the planned mine is high: 77.84% say they are familiar with it (33.24% in detail and 44.60% partially), and only 4.26% had not heard about the project at all. However, once the survey moves from knowledge to attitudes, opposition dominates. Asked whether lithium is an “environmentally friendly mineral” that should be mined, 56.25% say no, 22.16% say yes, and 21.59% say they do not have enough information—an area where campaigns and arguments compete.
The key indicator is trust in environmental guarantees: 72.73% do not believe Rio Tinto’s promises about “the highest standards,” while 16.76% do. Similarly, 67.33% believe the mine cannot be built without environmental consequences (31.25% “no” + 36.08% “no, I am completely sure”). Concern about risk goes beyond the local level: 37.22% estimate that the effects of a potential accident could be felt “as far as the Black Sea,” and 16.19% “as far as Belgrade.”
It is therefore unsurprising that 74.15% support citizens demanding a referendum. And when it comes to politics, the message is clear: 52.03% think political involvement in the protests does not help local residents—accompanied by many comments stressing the need for independent experts, lawyers, and environmental organizations.
The sample is predominantly male (59.38%), with most respondents aged 36–55 (57.10%); the most frequently cited locations are Belgrade, followed by Loznica and Novi Sad. Methodologically, this is an online, self-selected sample—but the mood is unambiguous: trust is low, and demand for direct citizen decision-making is high.