Serbia blocked mine after mass environmental protests
Rio says Jadar has impeccable environmental credentials
Rio says Jadar offers big economic opportunity for Serbia

MELBOURNE, May 5 Reuters Rio Tinto is eager to reopen talks with the Serbian government about its 2.4 billion Jadar lithium project, which was blocked ahead of the country39;s recent election, the company39;s chief executive and chairman said on Thursday.

The Serbian government revoked licenses for the Jadar project in January after massive protests sparked by environmental concerns about the planned mine.

We very much hope that we will be able to discuss all of the options with the government of Serbia now the elections are out of the way, Thompson told shareholders at the company39;s Australian annual meeting, in Rio Tinto39;s first public comments following the election.

Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic overwhelmingly won reelection in April but his party fell short of forming a government in its own right.

The Jadar project, which could supply 90 of Europe39;s current lithium needs, was very important for Serbia as it could boost the country39;s economic output and open up opportunities for the development of a downstream business to supply green technology to the European automotive market, Thompson said.

Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm said the global miner is still pushing ahead with plans to become a lithium producer, trying to accelerate the Rincon project it acquired in Argentina in…