The Montalegre Com Vida Association has called a demonstration for Saturday, the day of the Fumeiro Fair, to demonstrate that the fight against the lithium mine continues and warn of the impacts of mining, specifically on water.
“Our objective is, once again, to draw attention to the impact of the Romano mine and the Environmental Impact Study (EIA) that is currently under analysis, and the gaps it presents,” Armando told the Portuguese news agency on Tuesday. I paint. , leader of that association, which was created to fight against the mine that Lusorecursos Portugal Lithium wants to explore in the Morgade area, in Montalegre, in the Vila Real district.
The protest was called for Saturday, the third day of the 32nd edition of the Feira do Fumeiro, an event considered an “anchor” for the municipality, which takes place between Thursday and Sunday and attracts many visitors to the town of Trás-os – Mountains.
Zero opposes the lithium mine in Montalegre and points out its impact on populations
Among the “various” impacts derived from mining is water consumption, a concern that gained relevance in 2022 due to the drought that was felt throughout the country.
“It says in the EIA that they are going to use about 10,000 cubic meters of water a day, which is brutal. In other words, you will spend more on this Romano mine project in one day than the municipality will spend in a month. Therefore, it is something that we cannot accept”, affirmed Armando Pinto.
The official pointed to the reservoir of the Alto Rabagão (Pisões) dam that, last year, fell to historical levels and, at this moment and despite the “amount of rain that has already fallen”, practically “does not even reach half ” your ability.
“In a year like this of drought, we wanted to know what the option would be. It would be leaving the population without water or it would be giving that water to a project of this magnitude, ”he questioned.
In addition to the dam, according to Armando Pinto, the mine will also use water from wells and diversions from streams in the area. “A project that consumes this amount of water cannot be a viable project“, he defended.
Armando Pinto also recalled the studies presented by the Nova de Lisboa, Ciências do Porto, Minho and Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro Universities, and stated that these “They are unanimous in disapproving of this type of project“, mainly in this region, stressing that “the only option is to fail the EIA”.
“We cannot remain silent and, for this reason, we once again took to the streets to show our discontent and warn about the consequences of mining. We want to show that the issue is not forgotten, that we will continue in our fight and show that this project does not have legs to walk on, and this is a way that we found to demonstrate it, ”he said.
This is also a return to the demonstrations in Montalegre against mining exploitation, after an interregnum caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The concentration is scheduled for Saturday afternoon, in the town square, followed by a parade through the streets of the town, passing through the main avenue, next to the multipurpose pavilion, where the fair will take place.
The public consultation of the EIA of the “Romano” mine ended in May, with 511 participations presented on the “Participa” portal. This was one of the largest participations registered in that ‘online’ portal in terms of mining projects.
The EIA of the lithium mine in Montalegre contemplates mixed exploration, open pit and underground, as well as the construction of a refinery to transform the mineral.
Source: Observadora
