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Boticas residents block Savannah Resources lithium mine works
Members of the Association Unidos em Defesa de Covas do Barroso (UDCB) staged a blockade on Friday to halt machinery and work at the Barroso lithium mine project in Boticas, Portugal. Approximately 30 protesters blocked access to work sites located on lands under administrative servitude, citing a decade-long struggle against the project.
Nélson Gomes, president of the UDCB, stated that the blockade is a necessary escalation due to the government’s refusal to listen to local concerns. Protesters argue that the open-pit mine threatens the region’s agricultural heritage, water quality, and traditional livelihoods, including apiculture and tourism. The association claims the project is being imposed on the community despite significant local opposition.
Political figures, including José Manuel Pureza of the Bloco de Esquerda, have criticized the government’s handling of the situation, describing the political approach as authoritarian. There are also allegations regarding the use of security forces to police areas beyond legal administrative perimeters. While legal challenges have previously led to temporary suspensions of prospecting, activists fear work will continue despite ongoing judicial processes.
Entities
Associação Unidos em Defesa de Covas do Barroso · Bloco de Esquerda · Boticas · Covas do Barroso · José Manuel Pureza · Nélson Gomes · Savannah Resources · Unidos em Defesa de Covas do Barroso
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 2 SOURCES] Nélson Gomes, president of the association, stated that blockades are a last resort after failed attempts at dialogue. rr.pt · www.sabado.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The association attributed the blockade to the government's inflexibility in addressing community demands. www.sabado.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Barroso mine is described by Savannah Resources as the largest hard-rock spodumene lithium deposit in Europe. www.sabado.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Bloco de Esquerda coordinator José Manuel Pureza criticized the political power for behaving in an authoritarian manner toward the local population. www.avozdetrasosmontes.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Protesters are concerned about the impact of four open-pit mines on a region classified as a world agricultural heritage site. rr.pt
- [○ 1 SOURCE] In June 2026, the Mirandela Administrative and Tax Court accepted a precautionary measure suspending the second administrative easement and exploration. www.sabado.pt
- [● 2 SOURCES] The Associação Unidos em Defesa de Covas do Barroso blocked machinery at the lithium mine in Boticas. rr.pt · www.sabado.pt