Portugal has the largest lithium reserves in Europe and holds the concession for the Barroso lithium project, which corresponds to the largest European spodumene deposit, but exploration is conditional on obstacles that the article considers urgent to clarify. The country has a long mining history, with the exploration of tin, gold, and tungsten, and has sophisticated mining management, with the mines of Neves Corvo and Aljustrel recognized as benchmarks of best practices in Europe.
The extractive sector represents only 0.5% of GDP and 0.4% of GVA, and no new mine has been opened in over 30 years. The article explains that this is due to the discrepancy between the mining exploration cycle, which takes an average of 7 years, and political legislative terms, which last only 2 to 3 years, leading governments to avoid the burden of opening mining concessions. Tender after tender ends up being suspended or postponed.
Lithium is a critical raw material for the technological revolution and for the EU's carbon neutrality goals. China controls the world lithium market, and the EU has set a target to extract 10% of its raw materials by 2030. The Barroso project will contribute 50% of this target, being considered strategic, with the capacity to supply lithium for 7 million electric car batteries in the first phase and an initial investment of 400 million dollars.
The project has been subject to severe environmental and legal requirements, including cross-border requirements with Spain and road connectivity obligations. Boticas is one of the most depopulated municipalities in the country, having lost 60% of its population in recent decades. The concession area has no agricultural operations, livestock farming, or housing. In 8 legal actions filed against the project, all were favorable to the company.
