The minister of Environment and Energy, Maria da Graça Carvalho, stated in a parliamentary hearing at the Environment committee that the concession tender for the Cabril Dam, on the Zêzere river, should be launched by October 15. The Portuguese Environment Agency published a notice in January to initiate the administrative process for awarding this concession.
The minister regretted that the construction of the Pisão Dam, in Alto Alentejo, is halted by court order. This project, valued at 220 million euros, has been marked by successive legal proceedings that prevent the work. Maria da Graça Carvalho considered the increase in court cases related to dams, mineral prospecting, and energy projects to be concerning.
Regarding the Pisão Dam, the minister assured that "there is no political discourse against Pisão" and that the Government has won all cases, but that it is difficult to overcome the judicial decision due to the separation of powers. The minister considered that the current process is "taking too long."
The minister was also questioned about the opposition to the kaolin mine at Serra D'El-Rei, in Peniche, whose project was recently put out for public consultation. Maria da Graça Carvalho stated that the environmental licensing decision is the responsibility of APA and that it is "very sensitive" to public consultation responses, will certainly heed the opinions of the municipalities, which were unfavorable.
