MELBOURNE (Reuters) – Rio Tinto (NYSE:) is eager to restart talks with the Serbian authorities to revive plans for its $2.4 billion Jadar lithium mission, blocked forward of the nation’s current election, the corporate’s chairman, Simon Thompson, stated on Thursday.

“We very a lot hope that we can talk about all the choices with the federal government of Serbia now the elections are out of the way in which,” Thompson instructed shareholders on the firm’s Australian annual assembly.

He stated the mission was “crucial for Serbia” because it may add 4% to the nation’s GDP and open up alternatives for Serbia to develop a downstream enterprise to produce inexperienced know-how to the European automotive market.