Germany's Scholz Plans Lithium Deal With Serbia After Rio Ruling
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans to visit Serbia this week to secure supplies of lithium that are critical for the nation’s energy transition and auto industry, according to people familiar with the matter. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz plans to visit Serbia this week to secure supplies of lithium that are critical for the nation’s energy transition and auto industry, according to people familiar with the matter. Scholz probably will be in Belgrade on Friday to sign an agreement with Serbia President Aleksandar Vucic and cabinet ministers, the people said, asking not to be identified because the details aren’t final. A German government spokesman declined to comment. The Serbian government didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment. The potential deal comes a week after Serbia’s top court overturned the government’s 2022 decision to halt a $2.4 billion lithium project by Rio Tinto Group because of concerns about its environmental impact. It would be Europe’s biggest l...