Concerted opposition to a project to mine copper, lead and zinc at Lagoa Salgada – between Grândola and Alcácer do Sal, in the Alentejo – is celebrating a rare win against what, at times, looked like ‘all the odds’.
APA, the Portuguese Environment Agency, has delivered the second negative environmental impact assessment, suggesting the mine – awarded PIN status (meaning Project of National Interest) during the last Socialist government – has no chance now of going forwards.
This is a very rare ‘win’ against a ‘PIN’ – which usually sees opponents ‘outgunned’ by dint of the fact the project is considered ‘too important’ not to allow.
But in this case, sufficient evidence was produced to persuade APA that mining activity truly did represent “very significant impacts” to the environment and surrounding communities – in that it was planned on land above the aquifer that supplies local mains water.
Promoter Redcorp had already ‘adjusted’ the project following an earlier APA veto. But this time round, APA referred to the “transversal” opposition from citizens, mayors, environmental associations and businesses.
It has been a long, hard fight – and those at the forefront have stressed that it is time now for the ministry of environment to identify any improvements that the government can implement, “at the legislative and regulatory level in the process of awarding concessions for mineral prospecting and exploration, currently in force and for the future”.
Opponents stress that this was a plan that should never have been given PIN status as it was never desired by anyone on the ground – and carried clear negative environmental impacts.
Thousands signed their names to a petition last year; various television networks highlighted the arguments against mining – which was due to start construction early this year, with mining scheduled to begin in 2027.
A very much relieved Grândola mayor, Luís Vital Alexandre, has told Correio da Manhã: “APA recognised everything we have been saying over the last few months, and everything we have been doing to stop this project”. Locals are hoping “this will be the end” of a process “that has been dragging on for several decades”, with obvious impacts on the territory (as investments have been put on hold for fear of mining winning through).
Redcorp was hoping to mine at Lagoa Salgada over a period of 11 years. The project represented an investment of €196 million, said the company, which promised the creation of 300 direct jobs, and 700 indirect jobs.
Opponents always queried the ‘job creation’ estimates – particularly as the area already has a thriving industry of agriculture, forestry and tourism – all of which would have been destroyed.
With this second ‘veto’ from APA, environmental NGO ZERO has congratulated the government agency on what it recognises was “a courageous decision”, given the PIN status, and all that this entails.
Sources: Correio da Manhã/ Observador
