The lithium rush is launched in Portugal. The Portuguese Environment Agency (APA) announced on Thursday September 7 that it had authorized, under certain conditions, a second lithium mining project in the country. This metal is used for the manufacture of batteries and essential to the energy transition.
Portugal, which holds the largest reserves of lithium in Europe, is already the main producer, but, for the moment, its production is used entirely for ceramics and glassware. “Like what has been done in similar projects, the evaluation carried out took into account the strategic interest of lithium for the objectives of carbon neutrality and the energy transition”, explained the APA in a press release.
A first lithium mine project carried out by the British company Savannah in the commune of Boticas, in the north of the country, obtained conditional authorization from the APA in May.
Contested projects
The project validated on Thursday, designed by the Portuguese company Lusorecursos in the neighboring town of Montalegre, provides for the construction of a metal refining factory. For an investment estimated at 650 million euros, Lusorecursos plans to produce between 15 and 30 million tonnes of lithium hydroxide from 2027.
These two mining projects are contested by environmental non-governmental organizations and part of the local population of this rural region renowned for its beef production and known for being home to the Iberian wolf.
Along with cobalt or nickel, lithium is one of the metals necessary for the manufacture of electric batteries which will replace automobile thermal engines. In order to reduce its dependence on imports, particularly on China, the European Union is preparing the opening of mines and refineries to process it.