Bankwatch 191d ago

Cínovec is a small town in the north of the Czech Republic, right on the border with Germany. It has a long mining history and is set to become the home of the EU's largest hard-rock lithium mine, backed by equity investment from the EBRD. In November 2025, Bankwatch visited the project site to speak with local authorities, civil society groups, and people potentially affected by the project on both sides of the border. With operations due to begin as early as 2027, the mining company has largely kept local residents in the dark. Locals have criticised the lack of meaningful engagement and transparency in decision-making processes, timelines and the project-level grievance redress mechanism.