Lithium mine protest in Boticas enters the third day

Pon the third day in a row, about 50 people are concentrating this morning on a Savannah poll site in a baldia area in Covas do Barroso, Boticas, in protest against the lithium mine that the company wants to exploit.

“ The blockade for us has been a huge success. Savannah hasn't worked in the wasteland for three days. And it is necessary to dismantle what has been the company's narrative, by stating that it did not plan in any way works these days. Does anyone believe this coming from a company that is under pressure to advance the licensing of a project that has been dragging on for almost 10 years? It is a convenient conversation to alleviate investors’ concerns”, says, quoted in a statement, president of the U.S. Barroso Covas Defense Association (UDCB), Nélson Gomes.

The protests began on Tuesday and the company has said that in these days “work was not foreseen at the site of the protest” and that the work on the ground follows a “scheduled calendar defined solely by Savannah, within the respect for administrative servitude granted by the Portuguese State”.

GNR hasn't been called to the scene.

“Savannah continues to work on several fronts, fulfilling its work plan both on the ground and at the conclusion of the Environmental Compliance Report study of the Execution Project (RECAPE), in front of funding and in many other important areas,” the company also highlights.

The work takes place in a wasteland area covered by administrative servitude, granted by the Government in May, which allows the company to carry out polling operations, despite opposition from owners and parties.

Maria Loureiro, pastor of Romainho, said, also mentioned in the statement, that today the day of blockade is being “very special” because “people from all corners of the country have arrived to help” in the protest.

“ It shows how much more and more this is not just a Barroso Covas fight. Which only gives us more conviction that we are doing the right thing, when we say no to this project ", says still.

Rui Valente, an activist from Porto, was one of the people who went to Covas do Barroso to support the population in Barroso, explaining that what is happening in this village the revolt.

“ It is not difficult to imagine how difficult it would be for these people to endure such a blockade, to have to constantly leave work and family issues hanging. That's what I put together a group of friends to help. I'm from the outside, but in fact, as inhabitant of Porto, this may also affect me. The contamination of the Covas river, ultimately, is also the contamination of the Douro river ", says, also mentioned in the statement.

The mine is contested eight years ago and already on October 9 the association interrupted the work of the company, with GNR identifying 27 opponents to the lithium mine.

The mining project was made possible by the Portuguese Environment Agency (APA), with the issuing of a favorable Environmental Impact Declaration (IAI) conditioned in 2023.

Savannah Resources intends to start construction in 2027 and achieve the first production in 2028.