By exploiting the current natural disaster—the flooding of the Jadar and Korenita rivers—individuals opposed to the “Jadar” Project and media outlets campaigning against it are spreading panic and misinformation. The mining area is not and cannot be flooded, Rio Tinto stated in its announcement. Even the worst possible flood wave, including a pessimistic climate change scenario, cannot reach the planned mine site, as it is elevated above the flood level.
Media outlets opposing the Jadar project have published misinformation claiming that the Jadar River has flooded the mining exploitation area, presenting this as one of the alleged risks to the project’s realization.
As is clearly visible in the photographs and maps attached to this statement, the planned mining area has not been flooded, as it is not located in a floodplain, nor can it be flooded—even in the case of extreme floods that occur once in 10,000 years. For comparison, such floods would bring two to three times more water than the floods that hit Serbia in 2014, Rio Tinto’s statement noted.
The attached map of the central project area illustrates a flood scenario with a 10,000-year occurrence probability—the worst possible flood scenario. Any area on the map that is not colored blue, including the clearly marked section of the “Jadar” Project, can never be exposed to flooding because it is naturally elevated above the highest flood level. Even topographic military maps confirm that the designated location for mining shafts is above the Jadar valley.
The central complex of the Jadar project is situated on a natural river terrace elevated above the levels of the Korenita and Jadar rivers, at altitudes ranging between approximately 139 and 174 meters above sea level, making it safe even under maximum flood conditions. This is why the Jadar project does not rely on defensive embankments for flood protection—the worst possible flood wave cannot reach the planned mine site.
Rio Tinto has dedicated significant attention to flood protection, and the Jadar project is being planned with full respect for and understanding of nature and natural disasters. From the earliest studies, the mine facilities were strategically located outside flood-prone areas, and all subsequent studies have confirmed this choice. Since 2011, in collaboration with the competent water institute, a total of six hydrological studies have been conducted, and the latest study is currently being updated based on the obtained location conditions for the mining section.
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Another false claim being circulated is that the waste disposal site is also threatened by floods. This is not true. The location in the Štavice valley was chosen precisely because it is not a flood-prone area. Štavice is more than 140 meters above the Jadar River level, making it impossible for the landfill to be flooded. The planned landfill protection system has been designed according to the highest European and international standards, including multi-layered waterproof liners and a drainage system for collecting leachate, ensuring environmental protection and minimizing any potential risk.
Numerous studies have also confirmed that the Jadar project would not increase the risk of flooding in the Jadar River valley. The latest flood modeling study incorporated projected climate changes, and the analyses demonstrated that the project would not contribute to rising water levels during floods, nor would it create a barrier that could obstruct the river and generate a flood wave.
All these facts unequivocally indicate that the claim of flooding at the mining-industrial complex (the central project area) is yet another attempt to spread misinformation and panic, to which the Jadar project has been continuously subjected.
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Source: Politika, Foto: RINA via Politika