Nine associations and movements opposed to mining exploration demanded on Tuesday the immediate cancellation of all lithium mining projects in Portugal, regardless of whether they are at the prospecting, appraisal or exploration stage.
The group’s reaction follows an investigation that led to the Prime Minister’s resignation on Tuesday, targeting the lithium exploration concessions for the Romano (Montalegre) and Barroso (Boticas) mines, the Sines Hydrogen Energy Plant project and the “Data” project. -center”, developed in the industrial and logistics zone of Sines by the Start Campus company.
Two mining projects received favorable Environmental Impact Declarations (DIA), but subject to compensatory and mitigation measures.
“The actions of the PSP today make it clear that the suspicions of local movements and associations have always had legitimacy. We therefore demand the immediate cancellation of all lithium mining projects in Portugal, regardless of whether they are at the exploration or evaluation stage.” or exploitation,” the associations and movements said in a statement.
For mining opponents, the fact that the president of the Portuguese Environmental Protection Agency (APA) is involved in the process “suggests that the suspicions of various environmental movements and the civilian population in general are well founded that the licensing and mining processes in Portugal was not carried out in a transparent manner.”
According to this collective, these searches should be “extended to GALP and REN — Redes Energéticas Nacionais.”
Therefore, he argued that “lithium mining projects in Portugal must be immediately canceled at the risk of impacts on territories and populations, based on a corrupt and unclear process that in no way affects the well-being of the population or the environment as a first priority.”
For those who signed the statement, it is clear that “the António Costa government’s promotion of lithium mining in Portugal is not driven by any environmental and/or climate rationale, but rather by creating a network of business opportunities to benefit.” very little.”
They also mentioned that the companies “with which the main mining contracts are awarded (such as Lusorecursos at the Romano mine or Savannah Resources at the Barroso mine) do not have mining experience,” which raised “suspicions regarding the quality of this contract.” business.”
“We also take the opportunity to ask the various political parties to join the anti-mining movements and challenge the mining projects in Barroso as well as the mining development plan that is currently being implemented,” they said.
Regarding associations and movements, “there is no doubt that the disregard shown by the government to the legitimate protest of the population shows that this process does not take into account the interests of the people, the environment or the country.”
The statement was signed by the following organizations: People and Nature of Barroso, Minas Nao, United for Nature, Dornelas Development Association, United for Covas do Barroso, Extinction Rebellion Portugal, United for Nature Environmental Association , Nao-aos-Minas Movement – Montalegre, Territorial Organization. Research Group and Association Montalegre Com Vida.
Prime Minister António Costa today asked the President of the Republic to resign and he accepted it after the State Ministry reported that he was the subject of an independent Supreme Court investigation into the lithium and hydrogen projects.
The President of the Republic convened the parties for a round of hearings at the Belem Palace in Lisbon on Wednesday and will meet with the Council of State on Thursday.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
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