Left-wing MPs have highlighted a new danger emanating from Spain, following on from the nuclear concerns surrounding Almaraz (click here).
This time it is an Australian project for an open-pit uranium mine 40 kms from the border, near Salamanca.
Spanish local authorities are just as worried, believing their government is not being transparent about the dangers posed to local populations.
Portugal’s environment ministry stresses the issue is “far from being decided”.
But as Diário de Notícias explains, left-wingers’ fears are that the environment ministry is not being properly kept in the loop.
Said Bloco de Esquerda’s Pedro Soares, a project like this should involve environmental impact studies taken by both countries. This has not happened.
“The Portuguese government is taking a similar attitude to the one it had with regard to Almaraz”, he said. “When it got involved, things were already underway on the ground”.
The ‘bonus’ here is that Portuguese MPs appear to have forged good links with Spanish counterparts in opposition to the plan, which still requires final approval from the Spanish government.
natasha.donn@algarveresident.com
