A massive response by the public has demolished the first hurdle thrown up by law companies hired to push the case for oil exploration off the coast of the Algarve and Alentejo.
Top legal firms Sérvulo and PLMJ have been pressing for ‘proof’ that the Class Action lodged by civic group ASMAA was “legitimate” (click here).
Despite being backed by over 42,000 signatures, lawyers argued that the people who signed the petition collected over months by volunteers ‘could have changed their minds’ and thus be now in favour of turning offshore areas into drilling fields. This would render ASMAA’s Class Action null and void.
But it was not to be.
Despite being given not much more than a week to collect additional proof to back its Class Action, ASMAA has come up trumps. Almost 700 letters were delivered to Loulé’s Fiscal and Administrative Court and copied to ASMAA’s legal team, all setting out clear authorisation for ASMAA to act on the writers’ behalves.
Further support was submitted by two civic associations.
Thus the fight is still on – and ASMAA believes it has an extremely valid case (click here).
Indeed the group has said it is “honoured” to see its legal action afforded such “highly respected opposition”.
The next few days will be crucial – bearing in mind the clock is ticking on conditions at sea being favourable for test drilling that by law must take place by January.
ENI’s drilling ship Saipem 12000 is still docked in the Canary Islands.
Says ASMAA CEO Laurinda Seabra, Loulé’s judge will still need to acknowledge the group’s support, and then there is hurdle number two: “which is that we (ASMAA) are potential competitors to GALP-ENI”.
It’s “ridiculous”, she explains, but then many would argue that seeking to become a fossil fuel producer when the world is on notice to turn back from the brink is also just that.
