The European Union’s race to secure critical raw materials for its green transition is running into fierce opposition in an unexpected place: the tiny Czech border town of Cinovec, believed to host one of Europe’s largest lithium deposits. As Brussels accelerates efforts to reduce dependence on China and strengthen supply chains for electric vehicles, drones, and next-generation technologies, one local community is saying a firm “no thanks.”
A Town Shaped—and Scarred—by Mining
Cinovec sits in the forested hills of the Ústí Region, just steps from Germany. In the mid-20th century, this district was a powerhouse of the former Czechoslovak economy, dotted with as many as 80 coal mines at its peak. Locals still recall the environmental toll. Josef Fasman, now 49, remembers clearly the day his childhood snowman turned black overnight from coal dust.
Those memories linger. The region’s last mine closed decades ago, and residents embraced the peaceful years that followed. Nature returned. Spa tourism flourished. For the first time in generations, the economy grew without digging into the earth.
Today, the prospect of another mining revival—this time for “white gold”—has reopened old wounds.
Europe’s Lithium Appetite Meets Local Resistance
Lithium is vital for EV batteries, renewable energy storage, and defence equipment. As global demand rises, the EU has designated lithium as a strategic raw material. Europe controls roughly 5% of global reserves, and Cinovec alone is believed to hold about 3%.
But while the Critical Raw Materials Act aims to source at least 10% of strategic minerals domestically, local sentiment in Cinovec runs in the opposite direction.
“It feels strange,” said the mayor of nearby Dubí. “As the rest of the country moves into services, our region is being taken back to the mines.”
Residents argue that mining would damage the natural landscape that fuels tourism—a key economic pillar far more sustainable, they say, than a 25-year lithium mine.
Compensation Offers Fall Flat
Geomet, the EMH and ČEZ Group joint venture leading the project, has offered the municipality up to €1.1 million in compensation. But locals argue that the payment barely scratches the surface of potential environmental harm.
“There’s no amount of money that can compensate for what we have built here,” the mayor said.
And despite claims that the project will create jobs, few locals find this convincing: the mining workforce has all but disappeared in the Czech Republic, and many residents have no desire to return to extractive work.
The Rise—and Stumble—of Czech Lithium Dreams
Interest in Cinovec’s lithium first surged when European Metals Holdings began mapping the deposit. Public anxiety peaked when national leaders accused foreign firms of trying to exploit Czech resources.
The dynamic shifted when ČEZ, the Czech state energy group, purchased a majority stake, promoting the project as the EU’s future hub for EV battery production. A European investment bank later contributed funding, and the European Commission listed Cinovec among its strategic mining projects.
Yet major obstacles remain. Lithium prices have fallen due to oversupply and subdued global demand. Mines in the U.S. and Australia have halted operations, raising doubts about the project’s profitability.
Political uncertainty adds another layer: the Czech government has remained conspicuously silent on whether it supports the project.
Critical Details Remain Unclear
Perhaps the biggest frustration in Cinovec is the lack of transparency. Locals expected the final feasibility study years ago—detailing water usage, noise levels, and the scale of wastewater. It still hasn’t arrived.
“We need expert studies on air, water, and noise pollution,” the mayor insisted. “We know mining, and we know how risky it is.”
Groundwater remains contaminated from past mining with arsenic and cadmium—heavy metals that new drilling could release again.
Environmental concerns extend far beyond water. Cinvald, a local civic association, warns that:
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the mine lies partly within a Natura 2000 protected zone
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operations would require 540 GWh of electricity annually
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mining vehicles would burn 17 million liters of diesel each year
Despite this, ČEZ maintains that the project will be “environmentally friendly” and claims to be in regular dialogue with communities—something residents say does not reflect their experience.
What Happens When Mining Giants Ignore Local Voices?
According to a mining transition researcher at the University of Queensland, Cinovec’s experience is hardly unique.
“Mining companies minimize contact with communities because people complain,” she said bluntly. Engagement, she argues, is an industry-wide weakness despite decades of research showing its importance.
Looking to Serbia: A Warning and a Blueprint
Cinovec residents have turned their eyes to Serbia’s controversial Jadar lithium project, one of Europe’s largest potential deposits. Massive public protests forced the Serbian government to revoke a foreign mining license. Although the Constitutional Court later overturned the decision, the company recently suspended work indefinitely due to permitting delays.
For many in Cinovec, Jadar is a cautionary tale—and an inspiration.
“What is happening in Serbia shows that communities can resist,” said a local Cinvald representative. “Nature, public health, biodiversity, and our homes should not become victims of geopolitical shortcuts.”
A Community at the Crossroads of Europe’s Green Revolution
As Europe pushes aggressively to secure strategic minerals, places like Cinovec are becoming battlegrounds where climate ambitions collide with local realities, environmental protection, and democratic accountability.
Residents insist their stance is not anti-green. They support Europe’s shift from fossil fuels—but not at the cost of sacrificing yet another frontline community.
