Nestled in the scenic mountains of northern Portugal, just a couple of hours away from the bustling city of Porto, you’ll find the charming village of Covas do Barroso. This idyllic farming village has a population of less than 200, mostly consisting of older residents. The surrounding region is renowned for its Barrosão cattle, a protected species coveted for its high-quality meat. Boticas, the nearest town, is a short 20-minute drive away, and if you stand atop the hill, you’ll be greeted by the peaceful sounds of cattle, birdsong, and buzzing insects.
However, Covas is about to embark on a journey into the green-energy revolution like no other. Just a mere third of a mile from the village lies one of the richest lithium deposits in Europe. This silvery metal is a key component in electric-vehicle batteries, and plans are in motion to mine it from the area. This mining project has sparked concerns among locals about its potential environmental impact and the disruption it may bring to their peaceful village. A protest against the mine is scheduled for later this month, with the president of the local protest group, Associação Unidos em defesa de Covas do Barroso, expressing their opposition, stating, “Our biggest opposition to the mine is that they want to destroy us.” The proximity of the mine to the village only amplifies their concerns.
As the demand for critical minerals continues to soar, governments across Europe are eager to tap into domestic resources. However, the fast-tracked approval process for mining projects, which once took years or even decades to materialize, has sparked resistance from the local community and environmentalists alike. The importance of securing these essential minerals for the green-energy transition is often lost in translation.
Europe is experiencing a mining renaissance, with nearly 50 mines projected to open by 2030. Germany is exploring the possibility of a lithium mine using a new technology that extracts the metal from brine. Copperstone Resources in Sweden aims to reopen a brownfield mine to extract copper, while Adriatic Metals has already started mining for silver and zinc in Bosnia, with more projects on the horizon throughout Finland and Greece. This renewed interest in mining is a first for many industry experts, who have witnessed years of little to no mining activity in Europe.
Savannah Resources, a London-listed mining company, identified the Covas deposit as a potential mining site back in 2017. The company hoped to take advantage of the growing green demand by exploring the area’s lithium reserves. After encountering setbacks in obtaining approval from Portugal’s environmental agency, the project seemed to have stalled. However, this year, Savannah Resources received the green light to proceed with pre-feasibility studies and a small-scale operation. This approval coincided with the European Union’s proposal for critical-minerals legislation, aimed at expediting mine approvals across the bloc. Savannah Resources plans to establish four mine sites in the valley, with the largest site spanning the length of five football fields. Currently, the company is mining the smallest site, with some of the extracted material being used in the local ceramics industry. The goal is to eventually produce lithium hydroxide, a vital component in lithium-ion batteries.
However, local residents are concerned about the impact the mining operations may have on the Covas river. Savannah Resources has reassured the community that they will not draw water directly from the river, instead opting to build reservoirs to store rainwater. Despite these assurances, there remains skepticism among the locals, with opposition leader Nelson Gomes stating, “Savannah Resources will not take water from the river, but they need to take it from somewhere.”
While governments recognize the need for a secure supply chain of metals and minerals, they must also contend with the mounting opposition from local communities. The mining industry has a troubled history of environmental damage, strained relationships with communities, and devastating disasters. In 2021, Rio Tinto’s lithium project in Serbia was derailed due to local opposition, although the company remains optimistic about its eventual opening.
The urgency to secure critical minerals is evident as most of these resources are concentrated in a handful of countries. China’s recent announcement of export restrictions on germanium and gallium, two vital minerals for semiconductor production, caused prices to skyrocket and underscored the need for diversified supply chains.
Jessica Polfjärd, a member of the European Parliament, emphasized the shifting attitudes toward mining in Europe. Mining is now seen as a necessary endeavor, as it provides the essential resources needed for the green transition.
As countries strive to meet the growing demand for green technologies, the challenge lies in finding a balance between resource exploitation and environmental responsibility. The looming green-energy revolution necessitates a collaborative effort to ensure a sustainable future while addressing the concerns of local communities and environmental groups.
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