Portugal to Publish Tender for Lithium Explorations

The Government of Portugal announced on Friday that it would publish an international tender for lithium explorations in that country, in six regions which have Europe’s biggest reserves of this metal important for energy transition.

Of a total of 11 potential sites, five were ultimately excluded for ecological reasons from the tender, which will be published in two months, said Portugal’s Minister of Environment, Joao Pedro Matos Fernandes, at a press conference in Porto, in the country’s north.

The mining project that could arise from the explorations which are supposed to be carried out in about five years, will be added to the three already identified sites in Portugal.

The project that progressed the furthest, that of the British company Savannah, in the northeastern municipality of Boticas, is waiting for the green light of the Portuguese environment authority.

One of the criteria for the tender for the exploration of new sites will be the presentation of the industrial project which goes beyond the mere excavation of the ore, said the minister.

– Not a single gram of this lithium will be processed outside Portugal – he said.

Portugal is already Europe’s main producer of lithium, but for the time being, the production is solely in the service of the ceramics and glass sector.

Along with cobalt and nickel, lithium is one of the necessary metals for the production of electric batteries for cars which are supposed to replace the engines which are used now and which contribute to climate change.

In order to reduce its dependence, especially in relation to China, the EU is preparing to open mines and refineries.

In December last year, the Portuguese oil group Galp Energia and the Swedish producer of electric batteries Northvolt announced the agreement on the construction, in Portugal, of one of the first factories for the processing of lithium in Europe.

Government of Portugal

Ministry of Environment of Portugal

Savannah Great Britain

Galp Energia Portugal

Joao Pedro Matos Fernandes

lithium

explorations

excavation

processing

international tender

environmental protection