(Lisbon) The Portuguese government announced, on Friday, the launch of an international call for bids to explore for lithium in six regions of the country, which includes the largest European reserves of this mineral vital to the energy transition.
Posted on February 4th
The Minister of Environment and Climate Action, Joao Pedro Matos Fernandez, explained during a press conference that out of a total of 11 potential deposits, five were finally excluded for environmental reasons from the call for bids that will be issued within two months. In Porto (North).
Mining projects, which can arise from these exploration activities, and which will be developed over a period of five years, will be added to the three deposits already identified in Portugal.
The most advanced project, led by the British company Savannah in the municipality of Boticas (northeast), is awaiting the green light from the Portuguese Environment Agency.
Mr. Matos Fernandez emphasized that one of the criteria for inviting bids for exploration for new deposits would be to submit an “industrial project” that goes beyond mere mining extraction.
“Not one gram of this lithium will be processed outside of Portugal,” he said.
Portugal is already the main European producer of lithium, but at the moment, its production is used entirely in the manufacture of ceramics and glassware.
Along with cobalt or nickel, lithium is one of the primary metals for the manufacture of electric batteries that will replace automobile heat engines that contribute to global warming.
In order to reduce its dependence on imports, particularly towards China, the European Union is preparing to open mines and refineries.
Last December, Portuguese oil group Galp Energia and Swedish electric battery maker Northvolt announced an agreement to build one of Europe’s first lithium refineries in Portugal.
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