Ruins of the Borralha Mines, in Montalegre, Vila Real
At the moment, Portugal has five metallic ores explorations, in Aljustrel, Castro Verde, Panasqueira and Seixo da Beira (two). It’s good for the economy, it brings jobs, but…
The Ministry of the Environment announced, at the beginning of this month, that the plan for the future involves launching new competitions for research and prospecting for metallic minerals, simplifying project licensing and streamlining financing mechanisms.
Last year, Portugal exported a total of 680,570 tons of metallic ores (mainly copper and zinc), worth approximately 594 million euros.
As detailed by , the numbers reflect an increase of 10.7% in quantity, but a reduction of 11.4% in value compared to 2022, when prices rose, at the height of the energy and commodities crisis.
In addition to being good for the Portuguese economy, the arrival of these businesses in Portugal came employ thousands of people.
According to data from the General Directorate of Energy and Geology (DGEG) released this Tuesday by Público, at the end of 2022, the five metallic mineral mines in operation employed a total of 3,247 people (more than the 2,867 in 2021 ).
As the same newspaper details, the national deposits are mainly extracted copper, tin, tungsten, zinc and lead which are mainly exported to European Union countries.
Of these, copper and tungsten are equally defined as raw materials strategies for the European economy. Equally strategic is the lithiumwhose main exploration project is expected to start in 2027, in Boticas.
A plan is already underway to ensure the implementation in Portugal of the European Regulation on Critical Raw Materials (REMPC).
At the beginning of the month, Minister of the Environment, Maria Graça Carvalhorevealed that, next year, the Government should advance further with competitions for research and prospecting for copper, gold and lithium in 2025.
In the case of lithium, potential areas for granting lithium prospecting and research rights have been identified for almost three years, namely:
- Mass property (Pinhel, Trancoso, Mêda, Almeida);
- Seixoso-Vieiros (Fafe, Felgueiras, Amarante, Guimarães, Mondim de Basto and Celorico de Basto);
- e Mangualde Guard (in the municipalities of Belmonte, Covilhã, Fundão, Guarda, Sabugal, Mangualde, Gouveia, Seia, Penalva do Castelo and Fornos de Algodre, Viseu, Nelas and Oliveira do Hospital).
But not everything is a “bed of roses”
In addition to what these projects imply, it is known that this do not have easy “public acceptance” – especially in areas invaded by farms.
The Government working group report proposes the creation of a Mineral Resources Communication Plan to facilitate this “public acceptance” of exploration projects.
As Público mentions, it is necessary to raise awareness among mayors and the population in general, as well as “some professional classes responsible for disseminating and publicizing the real importance and value that geological resources can and should have for the country and regions”.
Last week, the controversy in Boticas flared up even more, after the Government authorized the access to private land for lithium exploration.
Savannah (the responsible company) will have authorization to occupy the lands in question for one year, during which time the owners and tenants of these sites will be required to consent to access and occupation.
Naturally, this decision generated a great local outcry. The population is outraged, promising a legal battle.
