Mariana Mortágua says “we have to believe it is possible to stop these mines”
The coordinator of Bloco de Esquerda (Left Bloc) said today that the populations fighting against lithium mines have “given lessons of resistance to the country”, suggesting it must be possible to stop the explorations planned for the municipality of Montalegre.
“We have to believe that it is (possible), because the population is against it and is uniting to stop these explorations.
“The population of this municipality, like many others, has given lessons in resistance to the country, has protected this territory in a way that the government has been unable to do, as the state should have protected it but has not; as the major parties should have protected it but have not”, said Mariana Mortágua at the end of a meeting with environmental protection association Montalegre Com Vida, regarding the continued threat of lithium mining in this municipality in the district of Vila Real.
The left-winger added that it is “important to remember in every election” that a region cannot be “drilled” against the will of its people – warning of the urgency of “protecting” the resources of the interior.
“Portugal must understand that if it wants to protect its interior, it must protect its natural resources. This is where the water that many people drink comes from, and where agriculture and meat come from, products that add value to the territory and to Portugal. Wanting to destroy all this in the name of lithium mines that we don’t even know if they contain lithium, that leave no wealth in this territory, is a profound disrespect to the country and we are committed to stopping lithium mines,” she went on.
When asked about compensation or royalties for the population, Mortágua suggested “propaganda” was being used as an “economic argument” – insisting that the country will “only lose” with lithium mines.
“There are no economic arguments, there are no jobs, except for propaganda. (…) Those who live here will only lose, the country will lose, there will be one or two who will gain, certainly, which is why (people continue protesting), but that does not mean that the country has anything to gain from this destruction in Trás-os-Montes and other areas”.
In the village of Morgade, the BE coordinator also referred to the integral argument against mining that the endogenous resources and natural wealth of these municipalities classified as World Agricultural Heritage “are more valuable than any mining exploration”.
“We need to tell these people that we will be able to save their land, natural resources, biodiversity, save water; save what is left of this country and its resources that are so economically valuable. What is produced here, the landscape we have here, the water that is generated here, has more economic value than possible mines. So, yes, it is possible to stop these processes,” she told reporters.
The Romano mine, in Montalegre, obtained in September 2023 a favorable DIA (Environmental Impact Declaration) conditional on the the allocation of royalties, compensatory measures for local populations and for impacts on the habitat/ sustainability of the Iberian wolf. Lusorecursos has already said that it intends to begin mining in 2027 and that its refinery should start operating the following year. The mine is contested by the public, Montalegre City Council and environmental associations.
At the end of March, the European Commission included lithium exploration projects in the municipalities of Boticas and Montalegre in the first batch of projects designated as strategic under the European Critical Raw Materials Regulation, much to the dismay of both local people and environmental organisations.
Source: LUSA
