Mercedes boss Ola Källenius (55) emphasized the importance of the lithium deposits in Serbia for Europe. “It is important. We are in the process of setting up our raw material supply chains up to the mine on a regional basis,” said Källenius in a Reuters TV interview in Belgrade on Friday. “This lithium deposit here in Serbia is one of the largest.” The raw materials company Rio Tinto will build a very modern mine. “And we are a potential customer for this project.”
Källenius emphasized that he supports Serbia’s desire to also build part of the value creation in Serbia and not just export lithium as a raw material. “In order to do this economically, we will certainly have some of the value chains here in the country – possibly up to the production of the battery cells.” That would have to be decided by the battery cell suppliers. “But we would also support such a project,” emphasized the Mercedes boss.
It is no contradiction that Mercedes has stretched its plans for battery production somewhat in view of the sluggish sales of electric cars, but is trying to obtain lithium from Serbia. This is important for battery production. “The future is electric. Maybe it’s not a straight line, but it’s going up, and we have to think long-term here,” emphasized Källenius. “That means: On the way into the 1930s and until the end of the 1930s, these supply chains will be extremely important.” The fact that the market is now a little quieter than people thought three years ago doesn’t change that.
In Belgrade in the morning in the presence of Chancellor Olaf Scholz (66) and EU Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic (57) signed two declarations of intent. One concerns a raw materials agreement between EU accession candidate Serbia and the EU. Serbia also wants to reach an agreement with companies such as Mercedes and Stellantis to build a value chain. According to President Aleksandar Vucic (54), the lithium that will be mined by the mining company in the future will cover a total of 17 percent of European needs.