The race to attribute concessions for lithium mining has been temporarily halted as the government undertakes ‘strategic environmental evaluation’.
Environment minister João Pedro Matos Fernandes pledged in Lisbon yesterday that the country would not exploit lithium ‘at any cost’.
The auction for nine areas in the north and centre has been delayed for at least six months but there is no question that lithium mining won’t go forwards, he said.
“Lithium is absolutely fundamental for the digitalisation and decarbonisation of the economy”, Matos Fernades told a conference on climate action.
“Europe doesn’t have many of its own resources, but Portugal has lithium reserves and we must exploit them.
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