The race to drill for oil and natural gas off the coast of Aljezur has just thrown up some new hurdles for opponents backing a Class Action submitted in court to block the plan.
Civic group ASMAA lodged its action in April, saying ““If successful, contracts held by the ENI/GALP consortium will be declared null and void.”
But activists now suggest that “big legal guns unleashed by the government and oil companies ENI/ GALP” have challenged the legitimacy of their case.
To prove the extent of public opposition to the plan, ASMAA has been advised by Loulé’s administrative court to publish an advert in Público tomorrow (Friday) which will give people the information they need to prove their opposition.
Sending out a press release last night, the group that has been fighting the oil agenda for years says: “THIS IS AN EARLY WARNING of what’s to come so that you can prepare yourself to act during the course of next week, if you are really serious about not wanting any deep-offshore oil drilling in the Portuguese surrounding oceans.
“On Friday 21 September, we will publish a copy of the published advert, as well as guidelines on how to ensure that ASMAA can legally and with the full support of the Portuguese legal system be your voice in this matter. So that we can continue to represent you against what we perceive as one of the biggest risk to our environment, our quality of life and the overall public interest.
“For further info you have to wait until Friday. If you can’t get through to us then, feel free to contact us via email to legal@asmaa-algarve.org”.
With very few further details to work with, the Resident understands that objections will only have one week to be lodged, with the cut-off deadline being next Friday, September 28.
The case – which has up until now been dealt with in Loulé – is due to get its next hearing at the central administrative court of the south, which sits in Lisbon.
