Construction of the first lithium mine in Portugal approved

The Barroso mine project was significantly modified in relation to the original proposal to save environmental aspects related to the protection of water flows and biodiversity or waste management, among others, the agency said.

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Illustration, Photo: Shutterstock
Illustration, Photo: Shutterstock
Disclaimer: The translations are mostly done through AI translator and might not be 100% accurate.

The Portuguese Environmental Protection Agency (APA) approved today, subject to certain conditions, the opening of the first lithium mine in the country that has the largest reserves of this metal important for the production of batteries and the energy transition in Europe.

The project of the British company Savana Resources envisages the extraction of lithium near Botikas, in a rural area in the north-east of Portugal.

It received a statement of favorable environmental impact, with several conditions, APA said in a statement.

The Barroso mine project was significantly modified in relation to the original proposal to save environmental aspects related to the protection of water flows and biodiversity or waste management, among other things, the agency said.

The Savana company welcomed the decision and pointed out in a statement that this is the first time that the APA has issued a favorable environmental impact assessment for a lithium mine in Portugal.

"An important milestone has been passed" for what could become the largest lithium mine in Western Europe. "This important decision now allows the transition to the next stage in the procedure for obtaining an environmental permit," the company said.

In addition to the project of the company Savana in Botikas and the project of the domestic company "Lusorecursos" in the neighboring municipality of Pontalegre, which has not progressed as much, the Portuguese government has announced an international tender for lithium exploration in six areas of the country.

Portugal is already the main European producer of lithium, but for now that production is exclusively for ceramics and glass.

Along with cobalt and nickel, lithium is one of the necessary metals for the production of electric batteries that will replace the engines of cars that contribute to climate warming. In order to reduce dependence on imports, primarily in relation to China, the European Union is preparing to open mines and refineries for its processing.

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