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STORY: These Serbians want to stop the construction of what would be Europe's biggest lithium mine.

The protests have been seen in dozens of cities around Serbia over the past month...

sparked by 48-year-old farmer Zlatko Kokanovic and his neighbors in Gornje Nedeljice, who voiced concerns the mine would pollute their land and endanger public health.

Some protesters say they're even ready to physically stop machinery to prevent the mine's construction.

Lithium is a key component used in mobile devices and electric vehicles.

In July, Serbia reinstated mining corporation Rio Tinto's license to develop its first European lithium mine in the western Jadar region, two years after it was annulled due to protests by environmental groups.

:: File

The $2.4 billion project could cover 90% of Europe's current lithium needs - making Rio Tinto one of the world's leading lithium producers.

Kokanovic says the mine would free the European Union from reliance on lithium from China "at the expense of our health."

In June, Rio Tinto said newly published studies found the project would be safe for local communities.

And to ease fears the Serbian health ministry formed a commission to study the impact of lithium mining on human health.

Still residents continue to protest the mine... and a deal signed last month giving EU members access to Serbian raw materials.

Activist Ljiljana Bralovic says "nobody wants a country that has become a waste dump, that has become a poison pit."

Protestors say they're prepared to escalate if the government fails to pass legislation by August 10 banning lithium exploration.

But the government regards the project as a key way to bolster Serbia's troubled economy and has so far not considered the demand.